Visiting Sri Lanka team will play their 5th match of the English tour today facing the mighty Englishmen at The Oval. Lankans have already lost the T20 series 3-0 and were beaten in the 1st ODI comprehensively, with more than 15 overs to spare.
They will be looking for the elusive first win of the tour, which at this moment seems like a improbability. With a thinned batting line up, without the services of the suspended trio of experienced batsmen, the three debutants could not make any impact at all at Chester-le-Street, who collectively made six runs and bowled three overs between them.
While the team is battling it out in England – looking to be competitive more than anything else, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) made a significant ‘hint’ back home picking up 13 players who had previously been almost ‘forgotten’, in to a preliminary squad to face the Indians later this month. Just prior to depart to UK, 38 national cricketers issued a statement refusing to sign central and tour contracts.
13 players enter into bio-bubble in Colombo to practice for India series
As all 24 members of squad which toured England have not signed the contracts, this move by SLC will no doubt be playing in the minds of the players who will take the field later today looking to find solace in a tour which has been nothing short of disastrous so far.
Possible playing XI:
1 Kusal Perera (c), 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Dasun Shanaka, 6 Wanindu Hasaranga, 7 Dhananjaya Lakshan, 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Chamika Karunaratne, 10 Binura Fernando, 11 Dushmantha Chameera
With Dhananjaya de Silva expected to make a return to the side, he is expected to replace Praveen Jayawickrama who was not able to make any impact in the 1st ODI. Rest of the team is expected to be the same, as the bowling unit did well and the batting unit has no feasible option left.
2nd ODI will start at 5:30 pm SL time today.