The three-Test series between England and Sri Lanka at Old Trafford marks a historic late start to a Test series in England. Sri Lanka, under captain Dhananjaya de Silva and interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya, face challenges due to limited preparation and lack of recent experience in English conditions. Despite their struggles, including a recent loss to England Lions, Sri Lanka has strengths like the experienced Dimuth Karunaratne and promising talents such as Kavindu Mendis. Jayasuriya's influence has revitalized the team, notably with an ODI series win against India, but their performance against stronger teams remains inconsistent. England, dealing with injuries to key players, will see new faces like Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope. The series promises a mix of novelty and tradition, with Sri Lanka aiming to capitalize on their rare late-summer tour of England.