Image source, Reuters

Can you hear that? It's the first one of the summer. The opening bars of Jerusalem are being piped into Headingley. Flags being waved. Nearly time...

Ed Smith
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"The big challenge for England going forward is to be less reliant on Alastair Cook and Joe Root. Compton needs to find a naturalness and let his talent flow."

Don't forget that England batting first means we have an early chance of some English cricketing history. If Alastair Cook makes it to 36 he will become the first English batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs. Well batted, skipper.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Neither Hales nor Compton quite nailed down their spot. There is a feeling that no-one is quite sure whether Hales is a Test match opener. Compton often starts a series well, but as a series goes on the intensity seems to grow and he becomes almost paralysed. He still has something to prove."

Tom, where are your games? If you need a keeper, I might be available...

Tom Preece: The endless debate about selection... I wish I had such luxury! Trying to get 11 men/women/children at the lower reaches of the village pyramid is a challenge...Tuesday and Saturday looking a bit sparse!

Image source, Tom Preece

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"The pitch looks a bit green, but it looks a good pitch and underneath it's dry, so the spinners could come into it. We talk about Headingley being a seamers' paradise, but it's turned a bit here in recent years."

If you had any concerns over the weather, I can confirm that the stumps are pitched, the covers are off and the practice nets are being removed from the edge of the square. Mother Nature, for the time being, is a cricket fan.

Tests

• 1st Test: Headingley, 19-23 May
• 2nd Test: Riverside, 27-31 May
• 3rd Test: Lord's, 9-13 June

ODIs

• 1st ODI: Trent Bridge, 21 June
• 2nd ODI: Edgbaston, 24 June
• 3rd ODI: Bristol, 26 June
• 4th ODI: The Oval, 29 June
• 5th ODI: Cardiff, 2 July

T20

• Only T20: Southampton, 5 July  

In case you need reminding, this is the first of three Tests, five one-day internationals and one Twenty20. All will go towards the 'Super Series', a pretty badly kept secret that was finally confirmed by the ECB last night. Four points for a win in the Tests, two in the white-ball stuff.

I'm getting some grief on Twitter for having the temerity to mock the Tour de France. I'm sorry, I just don't get it. If you enjoy it, I'm pleased for you.

Toby Bird: Wish I had the time to even listen to #bbccricket, external. Unfortunately quantum mechanics is a cruel mistress who demands my full attention.

Got all that? In the kerfuffle of the toss I forgot to remind you that Test Match Special is on the air. Tune in to Aggers and co on 5 live sports extra now. Twenty minutes until play, though I've heard rumours of rain in the Leeds area.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"James Vince has certainly got a good game and he's got the numbers behind him. He impressed the England management greatly with his leadership of the Lions."

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It was lovely to give James Vince his cap. Ian Botham did mine in Chennai. I said 'revel in the situation'. He's a very, very good player - I'm excited he's in the team. He has not scored the odd hundred - he has scored runs for years."

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Alex Hales, Nick Compton, Joe Root, James Vince, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn.

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dasun Shanaka, Rangana Herath, Dushmantha Chameera, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Rod TuckerTV umpire: S Ravi; Match referee: Andy Pycroft

England captain Alastair Cook: "We would have bowled with green grass and overhead conditions. We’re lucky to have Ben Stokes, who balances our side really well, and it’s great to have Steven Finn, and he’ll be ready to go – hopefully later in the game.

"It's been an interesting couple of years and we have the chance to win a very important series. It's a great day for James Vince on debut and hopefully we can make it a good five days.

"It would be nice to get those 36 runs [to reach 10,000 in Tests] so people can stop talking about it."

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews: "It was a pretty easy decision to bowl first. They always say if you win the toss at Leeds you look up. It was cloudy, so we wanted to have a bowl."