England add pace for Sri Lankan challenge

Tourists revert to more familiar shape for third ODI

England will return to a familiar team shape in the third one-day international against Sri Lanka, adding an extra pace bowler in place of the departed Liam Dawson.

The tourists made the rare decision to field three specialist spinners in both matches last week, but the chief beneficiary of that tactical switch, slow left-armer Dawson, is on the way home after suffering a side strain.

His replacement Joe Denly, recalled to the 50-over side after a nine-year absence, will not join his team-mates until a matter of hours before the scheduled start time and neither he, nor the freshly-married and newly-arrived Liam Plunkett, will be considered for selection.

Instead, Tom Curran looks set to feature ahead of Mark Wood, the pair having been ousted in the seam ranks by newcomer Olly Stone in Dambulla, while the younger Curran brother, Sam, is also on hand to offer left-arm swing.

With just eight more one-day internationals before the provisional 15-man World Cup squad is announced, and competition hotting up, Wood’s likely omission nudges him back in the pecking order.

Wood is quicker and more experienced, but Curran senior has the subtlety and variation which might allow him to thrive in sub-continental conditions.

Whoever wins out, all-rounder Moeen Ali says England will be more than comfortable to lean on a familiar configuration.

“We just go back to the same balance of team we’ve had these last few years,” he said.

“I think it’s more going back what we’re good at, two spinners in the side with Joe Root being the third if needed.

“He’s been bowling really well with the white ball and we have good skills with our seamers as well.