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1st ODI Preview: Tattered Sri Lanka look for a distraction from constant controversies

To put it the easy way, things are not going well for Sri Lanka cricket. After getting whitewashed in the T20I leg of the innings, fans and experts stormed social media, calling out the performances and professionalism of the current SL squad.

If you think that would put them under tremendous pressure ahead of the ODI series, well, you are wrong. To make matters worse three players from the Sri Lanka camp decided to go outside of their designated bio-bubble. A video of Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella was posted by a Twitter user on 28 June and in a whirlwind 12 hours since then, all three players have been sent home for the series.

So with that in mind, here is how the teams stand a day ahead of the ODI series.

England are riding high on the fascinating run not just against Sri Lanka but overall. The turnaround that has been seen in white-ball cricket under Eoin Morgan’s leadership is tremendous. 

The Morgan-led side is probably the perfect example of turning fortunes, writing your own scripts and delivering a masterpiece. The tweak was so perfect that it gave England their first 50-over World Cup. 

Morgan’s troops haven’t stopped this dominance and something similar was witnessed during the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at home after they clinched a thumping 3-0 win against the Asian side. 

The two teams are now slated to face off against each other in the ODI series beginning on Tuesday (June 29, 2021). 

The England squad has become a lethal force in limited-overs cricket as it has a bunch of brilliant bowlers in the armour and the instance of which was evident during the series against Sri Lanka. 

In the first two encounters, the English bowlers restricted the Sri Lanka batsmen for a low total while the quick bowlers ripped apart the Lankan batting order in the third and final T20I to bundle them out for a total of less than 100 runs. 

While the England side has an equipped bowling unit, the batting line up especially the top order has gone all guns blazing in the series apart from one disappointing outing in the second match. 

Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan were among some runs in the final clash and would be looking to continue the form in the ODIs as well. The opening slots could see a healthy competition between Malan, Roy and Bairstow when England take Sri Lanka in the first ODI. 

On the other hand, nothing has gone right for Sri Lanka not on just this tour but for many years now. Probably, 2014 World T20 final was the last time when the Lankan cricket fans would have thoroughly enjoyed the team’s performance when they defeated India in the final.

Since then it seems as if Sri Lanka are in a transition mode and haven’t really found a way to fix things up for themselves. Another instance of their gloomy performance unleashed in the T20I series against England. 

They were disappointing with the bat and had a dismal run with the ball too barring that second T20I where the bowlers showed some mettle. 

While England are lethal at home, Sri Lanka on the other side haven’t shown any intent in the shorter format of the game and need to rejig a lot of plans before they take the field in the first ODI. 

Match Details:

England vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI

Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street

Date & Time: June 29th, at 3:30 PM IST and 11:00 AM Local Time

Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network

Pitch Report

The pitch has had something on offer for the batsmen in the last few games. In fact, in three of the last five matches played at this venue, the teams batting first have posted 300+ scores. So, the team that wins the toss should look to bat first and put up a total. 

Team News

England: England are looking in some nick especially after they fared in the last T20I. The all-round performance from the team would boost their confidence and the presence of someone like Sam Curran in the ranks would come as an asset. 

Considering the track and how it has been helpful in the past, the England top-order would be eagerly waiting to take the guard if Eoin Morgan wins the toss. 

Apart from this, Morgan, Livingstone, Curran, Moeen Ali can take on any bowling attack at any given stage of the game and chip in with some runs at a brisk pace helping the side increase the scoring-rate at the death overs. 

Overall, the English team looks stable and not much planning is required. Just sticking to the basics would do the job for them. 

Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan team is in some mess right now. They lost the T20I series 0-3 and then suffered a blow after three important members of the side were suspended for a bio-bubble breach in the UK. 

"Sri Lanka Cricket executive committee has suspended Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka & Niroshan Dickwella for breaching the bio- bubble and they will be immediately recalled to Sri Lanka," SLC secretary Mohan De Silva said in a statement.

In a video that went viral on social media earlier, Mendis and Dickwella were spotted roaming around on the street of Durham after which an inquiry was initiated by the SLC.  

Sri Lanka batting woes need to be fixed as early as possible but the suspension of three players has piled up more issues for the team. 

Probable XI

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (c), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera (c & wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep 

Fantasy XI

Kusal Perera, Jonny Bairstow (c), Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Jason Roy,  Sam Curran (VC), Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Mark Wood, Isuru Udana

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