England captain Andrew Strauss has challenged Ravi Bopara to establish a place in the Test side in Sri Lanka.

Bopara is battling with Samit Patel to replace Eoin Morgan, who has been left at home for the two-match series.

England open their sub-continent campaign in the first of two three-day warm-up games against a Sri Lankan Board XI in Colombo on Thursday.

"Ravi has had to wait very patiently," said Strauss. "He was in the UAE and didn't get a game and he's shown some good form in the one-dayers and he has a good chance of playing.

"The challenge for Ravi and others is to put their name in the hat and say 'pick me'.

"There are a couple of others vying for that slot and it will obviously depend on the balance of the side we pick."

The first Test match takes place in Galle on March 26.