Srilanka vs England 5th ODI Match Preview | 10th December 2014
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Tuesday, 9 December 2014 By Unknown
Sri Lanka v England: Alastair Cook to returns, Lanka aim to claim series
Two down with three to play, it's win or bust for England against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele Stadium on Wednesday.
If not quite a stroll, Sri Lanka's win in Colombo on Sunday was comfortable enough, and skipper Angelo Mathews will be hoping for a repeat performance to seal the seven-match series.
England welcome back Alastair Cook after his one-match ban.
With the top-order quartet of Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews all in good touch, they'll expect to take a 4-1 series lead in Kandy.
England's well-documented woes against spin have been exploited by Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis and the aforementioned Dilshan. The visitors can expect another trial by spin on Wednesday.
If everything looks relatively rosy in the Sri Lankan garden, there is much to ponder for England.
After serving a one-match ban for a slow over-rate, Alastair Cook is expected to take the captaincy reins at Pallekele. James Taylor's impressive 90 and Eoin Morgan's partial return to form in Colombo mean it's Alex Hales who'll likely be the batting fall guy.
Despite some bright individual efforts, England have failed to find consistency. There's a decent performance in this side, whether we'll see it in Kandy remains doubtful. The World Cup formula still seems a long way off for Alastair Cook's men.
Key Players
Sri Lanka: With three half-centuries and 218 runs in four innings, Kumar Sangakkara and Dilshan has been the pick of the Sri Lankan top-order this series. If they don't get him early on, it could be a long day for England's bowlers
Skipper Angelo Mathews has weighed in with quick runs and timely wickets, too. If a match-winning cameo is needed he's just the man to deliver.
England: With the chorus of criticism mounting once again, the pressure will be on Alastair Cook to deliver.
Joe Root has looked in good order this series without yet producing a match-winning innings. He's due a big score.
The pick of the bowlers last time out was Chris Jordan. A repeat would help England to an unlikely win and boost the Sussex all-rounder's World Cup credentials.
Sri Lanka Probable: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Dhammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis.
England Probable: Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, James Taylor, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Ravi Bopara, Chris Woakes, Ben Stokes/James Tredwell, Chris Jordan, Steven Finn
Fantasy 11 : Dilshan, Ali, Jayawardene, Taylor, Sangakkara, Matthews, Root, Bopara, Mendis, Woakes, Jordan.
Captain choice : Either Dilshan or Sangakkara
Vice Captain : Ali or Taylor
Vice Captain : Ali or Taylor
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