Warm-Up Match Concerns: Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva revealed that the team wanted more than one warm-up match before their Test series against England but was denied.

Loss to England Lions: Sri Lanka lost by seven wickets in a four-day, first-class match against the England Lions at New Road, being bowled out for 139 on the first day.

Improvement in Performance: Sri Lanka's performance improved in the second innings with Nishan Madushka, Angelo Mathews, and Dhananjaya de Silva scoring half-centuries.

Test Squad Details: Eight players from the warm-up match will be part of the squad for the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford, with Kamindu Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, and Asitha Fernando joining the team.

– Milan Rathnayake's Debut: Milan Rathnayake, a 28-year-old seamer, will make his Test debut after taking a wicket in each innings against the Lions. –

Condition Adaptation: Dhananjaya de Silva noted that conditions in England are quite different from those in Asia and expressed frustration over the limited warm-up opportunities.

Scheduling Issues: Dhananjaya mentioned that the tight schedule might have influenced the decision not to grant a second warm-up match, especially as this is Sri Lanka's first Test series of more than two games since 2018.

Recent Performance: Despite the loss in the practice match, Sri Lanka has a 100% record in Dhananjaya’s three matches as captain, including a recent ODI series win against India.

– Weather Impact: Dhananjaya anticipates that weather conditions will play a significant role in the Test match and plans to use three fast bowlers due to expected rain interruptions. –

Experience and Strategy: Dhananjaya will rely on the experience of senior players like Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dimuth Karunaratne, and expects Prabath Jayasuriya to be crucial if conditions suit spin later in the match.