Sri Lanka bats first in the first ODI against England

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka won the toss and was elected to bat Thursday in the first one-day international of the three-match series against England.

England had to make a last-minute change as Will Jacks was ruled out due to illness and legspinner Rehan Ahmed replaced him in the playing XI. Ahmed will team up with another legspinner Adil Rashid with Jacob Bethell and Joe Root the other rotation options for England.

Announcement

England skipper Harry Brook said he would have liked to bat first, “but it is what it is”. Brook believed Sri Lanka were a strong team in their conditions and was looking forward to the challenge.

Sri Lanka Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva returns to ODIs since last playing in the 50-over format in November 2023, while Wanindu Hasaranga misses out to focus on next month’s T20 World Cup to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

“It looks like a good pitch, I want a good score on the board,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said at the toss confirming that Hasaranga was rested for the World Cup.

Sri Lanka also came in with two specialist spinners Dunith Wellalage and Jeffery Vandersay in the hope that the wicket would suit the slow bowlers. De Silva and Asalanka are the two star players in the home team’s starting line-up.

Announcement

It is England’s first international series since losing the Ashes earlier this month in Australia.

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Lineups:

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Ratnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket