Exactly a month ago, Sri Lanka were struggling to flex their muscles in chilly Leeds but now they will start as somewhat favourites to beat England in the five-match ODI series which starts today at Trent Bridge.
After showing excellent signs of improvement in the latter stages of the Test series, Sri Lanka demolished Ireland in a two-match series which set the tone for the South Asian Islanders before this high-profile ODI series.
In 2014, Sri Lanka defeated England 3-2 and in the last ODI clash between these two teams during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Sri Lanka pounded England quite convincingly but the tides have changed since then. Under the guidance of Trevor Bayliss, the Poms are a different side with an aggressive and positive approach being displayed in white-ball which nearly took took them nearly to the ICC World T20 title earlier this year.
This series offers Eoin Morgan and his men a chance to overtake Sri Lanka in the ICC ODI rankings and also the chance to win the first-ever Super Series, which is now in favour of the hosts, 10-2. England are currently in sixth position in the rankings with 103 points, two behind Sri Lanka, and require a 4-1 series win to leapfrog Sri Lanka. A series whitewash will put England on 108 points as compared to Sri Lanka’s 100 points.
On the other side of the coin, if Sri Lanka sweeps the series, then they will join fourth-ranked India on 110 points but a 3-2 series will give them only one point while England will drop by one point.
England
England’s explosive batting order, fronted by the powerful Jason Roy-Alex Hales duo; anchored by Eoin Morgan, star-batsman Joe Root and Jos Buttler, will be bolstered by the inclusion of Jonny Bairstow who is currently the most feared batsman for the Sri Lankans.
The hosts’ bowling attack will be questioned heavily with the loss of Ben Stokes to a knee injury as death-bowling specialist Chris Jordan, left-arm seamer David Willey, in-form Chris Woakes and Steven Finn together with Moeen Ali will have a big task ahead in shutting down the Sri Lankan batting lineup.
Probable XI – Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (captain), Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Steven Finn.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka suffered an early blow coming into the ODI series with the unavailability of Shaminda Eranga with an irregular heartbeat. However, he would not have been available for the series anyway with his bowling action being found illegal, unfortunately, on the same day. Eranga became the third on Sri Lanka’s causality list after they lost Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera to injuries during the Test series.
Sri Lanka struggled with the bat during most parts of the Test series but this time around the spotlight will be on Kusal Perera, who made a match-winning 128-ball 135 in the 2nd ODI against Ireland to lead the batting unit alongside experienced Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. Left-handed Upul Tharanga will add stability to the middle-order while Seekkuge Prasanna can be very lethal with the bat, just ask Ireland.
Dasun Shanaka who walked away with the top award in his debut series against Ireland with a five-wicket haul and 19-ball 42 in the first game will need to put out consistent performances to cement his place while newbies, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka will need to fire regularly as they did against Ireland.
Sri Lanka will hope that their best fast-bowlers of the tour, Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal, will continue their good form while experienced Farveez Maharoof, who is making a comeback into the national side, will have an added responsibility on his shoulders.
Probable XI – Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Angelo Mathews (captain), Upul Tharanga, Dasun Shanaka, Seekkuge Prasanna, Farveez Maharoof, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep.
Final Say
The five-match series will be a great leveler between two young teams even though Mathews’ men can certainly be a formidable force in the 50-over format and have had the edge over England in the recent past. England will have to be at their exciting, explosive best to claim a series victory.
