• Kent batsman averaged 30 in
South Africa Test series• Jonny Bairstow set to get chance batting at No 3
![Joe Denly likely to be dropped by England for Sri Lanka tour](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e1d1ae1d52cd8109b3103fae03509a2b6e96d384/0_113_3400_2040/master/3400.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=5bcbbf83eaf6a6db6a4863cf883ebec1)
Joe Denly is set to be dropped for England’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka even though Keaton Jennings is now unlikely to be recalled when the squad for that two-Test series is announced next week.
Denly has held the No 3 position in England’s batting lineup but he only averaged 30 during the 3-1 series win in South Africa. That matched the Kent batsman’s career average but after starting the South Africa series with a half-century in the opening Test at Centurion, he failed to pass 38 after that.