Stuart Broad warning as Sri Lanka look to clinch series

England’s Joe Root (left) watches skipper Alastair Cook at an indoor practice session in Chester-le-Street on Thursday, ahead of the second Test against England. (Photo: AFP)

England may come into the second Test against Sri Lanka in Durham on the back of a crushing win in the series opener, but according to Stuart Broad the hosts have still to hit top form.

Propelled by a hundred from Jonny Bairstow and match figures of 10/45 from James Anderson, England thrashed Sri Lanka by an innings and 88 runs in the first Test at Headingley last week to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

But Broad, still the world’s no. 1 ranked Test bowler, said there was no danger of England letting up when the second Test starts at north-east county Durham’s Riverside headquarters on Friday.

“Obviously the series is still up for grabs and I think one thing we’ve probably been average at is in the last Test of the series when we’ve won, I’m thinking Centurion and the Oval,” he added of a defeat by South Africa earlier this year and last year’s Ashes-ending reverse against Australia.

“With a Test series up for grabs we’re on it and our aim is to have all nine Test trophies and we can make it eight this week,” he added.

“I think Australia and South Africa have done it before. It is not something that has been done a huge amount, so it would be a huge achievement and we’re desperate to do that.”

Woakes gets England nod Chris Woakes will replace the injured Ben Stokes in England’s side for the second Test, skipper Alastair Cook said on Thursday.

Warwickshire’s Woakes, a pace-bowling all-rounder, comes into the side in the only change to the team that won inside three days at Yorkshire’s headquarters last week.