Sri Lanka Women seek redemption

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England Women's Tour of Sri Lanka -Press Conference

The Sri Lankan Women’s cricket team will look to bounce back following a horrendous series white-wash against Australia in September when they take on the touring England team in a 4 match ODI series commencing today at the SSC.

Heather Knight will lead a 15 member England women’s touring party to Sri Lanka and it will be a massive challenge for the hosts as they look to register a win on home soil after a lean patch in international cricket.

England require just a single win from their final three ICC Women’s Championship fixtures to secure a spot at next summer’s World Cup on home soil. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have no hope of making the automatic qualification but will have to play in the World Cup qualification tournament early next year.

Fresh from a hard-fought 3-2 series victory against the West Indies away in the Caribbean, the Knight’s side now look forward to fixtures on the 12th, 15th and 17th November against the hosts Sri Lanka looking to secure one of the four automatic qualification spots on offer for the World Cup in 2017.

Photos: England Women’s Tour of Sri Lanka – Press Conference 2016

Photos of the England Women’s Tour of Sri Lanka – Press Conference 2016

Meanwhile Sri Lanka come into this series having endured a horrendous series defeat at the hands of the Aussies in September where the lost 4 ODIs and the sole T20. It will be an uphill task for the hosts to overcome the Knight’s side even though they face off in familiar conditions.

Sri Lanka will be without regular captain Shashikala Siriwardene, while stand-in skipper Chamari Atapattu has been relieved of her duties. Left arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera has been named captain for the forthcoming four-match ODI series on home soil.

When questioned by the media about how demoralizing the series loss to Australia was, Captain Ranaweera said, “Yes as a team we were disappointing, we accept the fact that we were disappointing. But without dwelling on the loss, we should move on and think about what’s ahead of us and most of all we are geared up to face the task ahead of us, to face it as a team”

Speaking on the preparations for the games Ranaweera said, “We are hoping to give them a good run for their money, we prepared for it the past three weeks and we are ready to take them on”

Finally when asked about what it feels like to be captain for the first time, Inoka mentioned “I personally think every player is a captain in their own right, when I bowl I will be looking to do my absolute best and when the other players do their duty, they are a captain”, she went on to say, “it’s no major task but I have a responsibility and I will work towards fulfilling it to the best of my ability”

Teams:

Sri Lanka

Inoka Ranaweera (captain), Prasadini Weerakkody (vice captain), Dilani Manodara, Nilakshi Silva, Ama Kanchana, Hasini Perera, Chamari Polgampola, Chamari Atapattu, Nipuni Hansika, Sripali Weerakkody, Sugandhika Kumari, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Hansima Karunaratne, Achini Kulasuriya

Reserves – Inoshi Fernando, Lasanthi Madhushani, Anushka Sanjeewani and Malsha Shehani

England

Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones (wk), Beth Langston, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver, Lauren Winfield, Fran Wilson, Danielle Wyatt (plus one to be added)

Additional players for training camp Georgia Adams, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Hennessy, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Bryony Smith.

Fixtures

1st ODI – November 09th – Sri Lanka Women vs England Women – 10.00am – SSC Grounds.
2nd ODI – November 12th – Sri Lanka Women vs England Women – 10.00am – R. Premadasa Stadium.
3rd ODI – November 15th – Sri Lanka Women vs England Women – 10.00am – R. Premadasa Stadium.
4th ODI – November 17th – Sri Lanka Women vs England Women – 10.00am – R. Premadasa Stadium.