England’s Predicted Playing XI against Sri Lanka: Sportsrush presents before you England’s Predicted Playing XI for the first ODI.

There is no hiding to the fact that England have undergone a significant amount of transformation from the last time they had toured Sri Lanka. England’s shambolic performance had seen them losing the seven-match ODI series 5-2.

Having scored 119 runs in six matches at an average of 19.83 and a strike rate of 67.23 in the series and 523 runs in 20 matches at an average of 27.52 and a strike rate of 71.25 in the year 2014, Alastair Cook, the then England captain, didn’t play ODI cricket ever again for arguably the right reasons.

Currently, England are the No. 1 ODI team in the ICC ODI rankings, chiefly known for their attacking instincts with the bat. The team management would be hoping for their batsmen to replicate their recent success on Sri Lankan wickets as well. In which is easier said than done against their wealth of spinners, it marks for the commencement of an interesting series from October 10.

England might have won the first tour match but would have been more contended if it had been a completed match or if the second match wasn’t called off due to inclement weather conditions.

Below is England’s Predicted Playing XI for the first ODI to be played at Dambulla on Wednesday:

Top-Order

Even if it means that Alex Hales will have to sit out, England’s tried and tested opening pair of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow will face the new ball in Dambulla. Having scored his sixth ODI century (147) against Australia in a run feast at Trent Bridge in his third last match, Hales might consider himself a bit unlucky but his ODI average of 40.45 this year is less than that of his teammates-cum-competitors in Roy (45.88) and Bairstow (51.05).

Coming on the back of a stellar three-match series against India at home, Joe Root quashed all murmurs of him not being good enough to bat at No. 3 for England. Having scored three centuries and four half-centuries in 19 ODIs this year, Root will bat at No. 3 for England.

Middle-order

The fearsome batting order further comprises of captain Eoin Morgan, all-rounder Ben Stokes and wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler in the middle-order, all of whom can win England the game in any situation on their day.

On his previous tour of Sri Lanka, Moeen Ali was their opening batsmen, who also scored his maiden ODI century. In a profile which didn’t last long, Ali is likely to resume his duties of batting in the lower middle-order and use the long handle as and when required.

Bowlers

Chris Woakes had emerged as the highest wicket-taker (14 wickets in seven matches at an average of 25.20, an economy rate of 6.10 and a strike rate of 24.8) during the 2014 tour. As a leader of their bowling attack, the English team management would be expecting him to deliver to replica of that performance.

In Liam Plunkett’s absence (for the first three ODIs), Mark Wood is likely to accompany Woakes with the new ball. The 28-year old has been a regular face for the English ODI team this year.

In the priority list, Tom Curran might have had a spot above his younger brother Sam. That being said, the latter’s skills with the bat down the order might just give him a go ahead of his elder brother. Adil Rashid is all in likeliness to play as the second spinner ahead of Liam Dawson.

England’s Predicted Playing XI  for the first ODI:

1) Jason Roy 2) Jonny Bairstow 3) Joe Root 4) Eoin Morgan (c) 5) Ben Stokes 6) Jos Buttler 7) Moeen Ali 8) Sam Curran 9) Chris Woakes 10) Adil Rashid 11) Mark Wood

Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on England’s tour of Sri Lanka below: