Cook eyes top-order improvements for Sri Lanka series

Alastair Cook expects more from England's top six as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in the opening Test at Headingley on Thursday.

England have revived themselves in all forms of the game under Trevor Bayliss and beat South Africa – the former top-ranked Test side – in their last Test series.

However, Cook was not happy with the performance of his batsmen in that series and has demanded more in the upcoming matches.

"We played some really good cricket in patches in South Africa, but one aspect was the top-order runs," he told a news conference. "We didn't really nail that. There were contributions, yes, but not real consistency.

"It'll be great to see guys in their home conditions, where we should be very comfortable."

Sri Lanka arrive in England looking to repeat their success of 2014 – when they won a two-match series 1-0 – although the absence of experienced duo Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara has left a hole in their batting line-up.

RECORDS ON THE HORIZON FOR ENGLAND

England go into the three-match series knowing victory can put them on the way to holding trophies over all nine Test-playing nations - only Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who they face later in 2016, stand in their way.

Cook also has a record on the horizon, the skipper just 36 runs short of becoming the youngest player - and first Englishman - to reach 10,000 in Tests.

LEEDS WEATHER A CONCERN FOR MATHEWS

While Sri Lanka's tour matches have been played in sunny weather, the conditions have changed ahead of the first Test with cloud and rain spoiling the build-up.

Those conditions present a tough challenge for the tourists, but captain Angelo Mathews is confident of testing England.

"We have to be ready to take on the challenge," he said. "We've trained in the cold for a few days, hopefully the guys can be ready."

PRASAD BLOW FOR TOURISTS, FINN STARTS FOR ENGLAND

Dhammika Prasad is a big loss for Sri Lanka after being ruled out with a shoulder injury, but there is some good news with the return of Lahiru Thirimanne.

Mathews confirmed on Thursday that Dinesh Chandimal will keep wicket, while Steven Finn will start for England ahead of Jake Ball.

That leaves James Vince as the only home player to make his debut, the batsman set to come into the middle-order in place of the recently retired James Taylor.

OPTA STATS

- England have won 10 games to Sri Lanka's eight across 28 previous Test match meetings (with 10 draws); the hosts, however, have only been able to claim victory once in their last six attempts against Angelo Mathews' side.

- Sri Lanka are currently unbeaten in four matches in England (winning one, drawing three).

- Sri Lanka have gone 14 Tests without being involved in a draw (winning six, losing eight) whilst only two of England's last 16 matches have ended all square.

- Lahiru Thirimanne has been dismissed by James Anderson more often than any other bowler  he's faced in Tests; being removed by him six times in five meetings for the cost of just 23 runs.