Sri Lanka has opted to bat first after winning the toss in the opening one-day international against England, part of a three-match series, held in Colombo on Thursday. This marks an important start for both teams, with Sri Lanka keen to utilize home conditions to their advantage.
England faced an unexpected adjustment to their lineup as Will Jacks was ruled out due to illness. Rehan Ahmed has stepped in as his replacement, joining a spin-heavy attack led by Adil Rashid. England captain Harry Brook expressed a desire to bat first himself, acknowledging the strong challenge posed by Sri Lanka on their home turf.
Returning to ODIs, Sri Lanka’s test captain Dhananjaya de Silva has not played in this format since November 2022. Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga has been rested in preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next month. Sri Lanka’s captain, Charith Asalanka, confirmed this strategy, emphasizing their aim to post a substantial score.
The match will feature a formidable spin attack from Sri Lanka, which includes two specialist spinners, Dunith Wellalage and Jeffrey Vandersay, alongside off-spinners de Silva and Asalanka. The home team is optimistic that the pitch will favor their tactics, hoping for successful outcomes from their bowlers.
This game is a significant moment for England, marking their first international series since losing the Ashes in Australia earlier this month. Both teams will be eager to make a strong impression in this new setup.
The lineups for the match stand as follows:
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Ratnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.
The match promises exciting cricket as both teams settle into this new series, and fans can look forward to thrilling performances from their respective squads.