Overview:
Both teams are expected to go in with heavy spin options. With the series to be decided, one can expect a cracking contest.
The Sri Lankan men’s cricket team is set to take on England in the third ODI on Tuesday, January 27. The match will be held at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka won the first ODI by 19 runs before England claimed a 5-wicket win in the 2nd. There is everything to play for in the decider.
Wanindu Hasaranga was rested by Sri Lanka for the 1st two games and he could be handed a game with the series on the line. For England, Zak Crawley missed the 2nd ODI with a knee injury. He may sit out again and this would mean that Rehan Ahmed will play as a makeshift opener with Will Jacks keeping his place.
What is the Context of the SL vs ENG match?
Joe Root has been a standout performer for England, hitting successive fifties. Spinner Adil Rashid has looked solid with the ball in his hand. These two senior players will be entrusted to get the job done in this series.
For the hosts, they need to come good with the bat and the senior players will be keen to step up. Pathum Nissanka has misfired and needs to find a rhythm.
Sri Lanka and England have faced each other 81 times in ODI cricket. Sri Lanka have claimed 38 wins with England managing 39. One match was tied and three games have not had any results.
As per ESPNcricinfo, on Lanka soil, the two sides have clashed 28 times. Hosts Sri Lanka have claimed 17 wins compared to England’s 10. One game didn’t have a result. At the R. Premadasa Stadium, the two teams have met 12 times. Sri Lanka have dominated with a 10-2 win-loss record.
The 3rd ODI between Sri Lanka and England will start at 2:30pm IST on January 27 in Colombo.
Sri Lanka – Probable Playing XI
Pathum Nissanka: The multi-format player can be a workforce. Nissanka got starts in both games (21 and 26) but failed to convert the same.
Kamil Mishara: The southpaw scored 27 runs in the 1st ODI and misfired with a score of 5 next. He needs to step up.
Kusal Mendis: He remains the most vital cog in this batting unit. After a solid 93* in the opener, Mendis bagged 26 in the next clash.
Dhananjaya de Silva: He brings tuning in this middle order. An all-rounder, de Silva owns scores of 10 and 40 in this series.
Charith Asalanka (c): A fierce player, Asalanka managed 17 runs in the series opener before scoring a vital 45.
Janith Liyanage: He will aim to provide the finishing touches. After scoring a neat 46 in the opener, the batter fell for 12 in the 2nd clash.
Wanindu Hasaranga: He will hopefully lead the Lankan attack after being rested for the 1st two games. Hasaranga is a trump card for the hosts. He owns over 1100 runs and has picked 111 scalps.
Dunith Wellalage: Preferred over Maheesh Theekshana for the 1st two games, Dunith managed 2/41 in the 1st clash before going wicketless next.
Jeffrey Vandersay: He is set to keep his place, having claimed 4 scalps from two games in this series.
Asitha Fernando: The pacer is a decent figure in this Sri Lankan side. In 29 ODIs, he owns 38 wickets.
Pramod Madushan: In 13 ODIs, he has picked 16 scalps for Sri Lanka. He claimed a three-fer in the 1st ODI before being wicketless in the 2nd clash.
Player to watch out for (Wanindu Hasaranga): The senior all-rounder will want to bring his A game. He has a sound record at home in ODIs.
England – Probable Playing XI
Ben Duckett : The England southpaw will aim to take on the home team from the start with his aggressive play. He has got scores of 62 and 39 in this series.
Rehan Ahmed : He could open alongside Duckett for the 2nd game running. He scored 27 while batting in the lower middle order during the 1st ODI. As an opener, he bagged 13 runs next. He has bagged two scalps.
Joe Root: He is England’s top scorer in ODIs with 7466 runs at 48.79. He has 19 tons and 45 fifties. He scored 61 and 75 in the 1st two games.
Harry Brook (c): The England skipper struggled in the first clash, scoring a paltry six. He managed a vital 42-run knock next.
Jos Buttler (wk): He is a top performer and will be keen to make his presence felt. He surpassed 5500 ODI runs in the 2nd clash.
Jacob Bethell: He has failed to make an impact in this series. The all-rounder owns scores worth 15 and 6. With the ball, he has gone wicketless.
Will Jacks: The all-rounder is another key option with bat and ball. He came as a replacement for Crawley in the 2nd ODI and took 1/47 before scoring 8*.
Sam Curran: He comes to this series on the back of impressive shows in ILt20 and the BBL. Curran with his left-arm pace and big-hitting exploits will be a key figure. He owns figures of 1/40 and 0/16 in the 1st two matches.
Jamie Overton: Being 12 ODIs old, he has bagged 12 scalps. He clocked 0/66 and scored 34 in the 1st clash. He managed 2/21 next.
Adil Rashid: He is England’s leading wicket-taker among spinners and the 2nd-highest overall. He has claimed 240 wickets and owns 5 scalps in this series.
Liam Dawson: He has done a fair job with his spin in thos series, taking 1/31 and 1/40.
Player to watch out for (Joe Root): He is a top ODI player and England will count on his attributes.
Top Batters for Dream11
In terms of the Dream11 team pick, among batters, the likes of Kusal Mendis, Joe Root and Harry Brook can be wise picks alongside Charith Asalanka and Ben Duckett.
Jos Buttler can be a differential pick. He promises stability and able partnerships.
Best All-Rounders to Boost Points
In terms of all-rounders, one can go with two sound options in the form of Sam Curran and Sri Lankan powerhouse Wanindu Hasaranga.
Bowlers to Watch in Dream11
With the surface expected to help spinners, the likes of Adil Rashid and Dunith Wellalage can be wise picks. Asitha Fernando can be the pace option.
Captain and Vice-captain picks
Root can be an ideal captaincy option with Mendis being the vice-captain pick.
One can mix it with Dhananjaya de Silva being picked as captain and having Rashid as the vice-captain.
Pitch Report & Venue Conditions
The R. Premadasa Stadium offers a balanced surface which is flat in nature but deteriorates as the match progresses. The surface starts favouring spinners as the game wears on. The black-soil wicket provides consistent bounce early but becomes slower and grippier, assisting turn and variable bounce in the middle overs. Pacers get minimal seam or swing, especially under day-night conditions, making it a spinner’s paradise for subcontinental clashes.
Match Prediction – Who Has the Upper Hand?
All things considered, both sides will be up for it on a surface that will help spin once the game progresses. Both teams are expected to go in with heavy spin options. With the series to be decided, one can expect a cracking contest.
FAQs About SL vs ENG Playing 11
Who are the key players in the SL vs ENG clash?
For the Lankans, Wanindu Hasaranga will want to bring his A game. He has a sound record at home in ODIs. For England, Joe Root can be ominous for Sri Lanka. He is a sheer run-scorer.