With just a few months to go before the 2015 Cricket World Cup England’s One Day tour to Sri Lanka will give the selectors the perfect opportunity to see how their side goes when given the chance to get in to the groove of one day cricket. The hectic global cricket schedule means that it is a rarity for a side to be given the opportunity to concentrate on ODI cricket without being pulled into T20 matches or test series’. The seven match tour of Sri Lanka consists of 50 over cricket only and is long enough for players to be given the chance to prove their worth and to find their form.
Poor Form
England last won an ODI series of more than three games back in 2012 and have struggled to find any sort of form since that Natwest Series win over Australia. This summer England were beaten comfortably by India (3-1) and by their current hosts Sri Lanka (3-2).
Batting Disappointment
England’s biggest problem in recent series’ has been their batting, with the top order failing to score runs quickly enough to allow the team to lay down a competitive total. Indeed in the series’ against India and Sri Lanka the hosts scored over 250 just twice. The series in Sri Lanka will give the selectors the opportunity to find the right man to partner Alistair Cook at the top of the order and get England off to the kind of flying start that they need. Seven games should be enough for the likes of Moeen Ali to really make his case and to play his way into consistent form.
Chance for Finn
England’s poor batting has taken the attention away from their bowling which, although the stronger of their disciplines has not been good enough to challenge at the World Cup. The seven match series in Sri Lanka will really challenge the bowlers and force them to be inventive in order to take wickets in the batsman-friendly conditions. The series will give Steven Finn the chance to show that he is capable of leading the line and much will be expected of him in the absence of James Anderson.
Tough Test
The series in Sri Lanka will be tough but if England can find their form and win there then they can be confident of making a good showing at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.