CHRIS WOAKES struck three times as Ollie Pope enjoyed a great start to life as England captain today, with Sri Lanka struggling to 178 for eight on day one of the first Test.

Woakes picked up a double-wicket maiden as the tourists slumped to six for three in a calamitous half-hour at the start of play and picked up another after lunch.

Gus Atkinson and Shoaib Bashir took two apiece and Mark Wood’s extreme pace brought him one as the bowlers handed Pope the ideal beginning to his temporary stint as England’s 82nd men’s skipper.