Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first in the third and final Test against England at The Oval, hoping to salvage some pride after losing the series 2-0. The Sri Lankan team made two changes, recalling Kusal Mendis for Nishan Madushka and replacing spinner Prabath Jayasuriya with pacer Vishwa Fernando to adapt to the conditions. England, aiming for a series clean sweep, handed a debut to 20-year-old left-arm seamer Josh Hull, who replaced Matthew Potts. Coach Brendon McCullum described Hull's inclusion as a 'punt' for future series, including the upcoming Ashes. Both teams are looking to make a mark, with England seeking its sixth consecutive Test win and Sri Lanka trying to avoid a complete series loss.