Fringe candidates desperate to push claims for World Cup places
The series is over as a contest and rain is a constant threat but the final one-day international today in Colombo is important for individual England players fearing their World Cup places are in jeopardy.
England will make up to three changes, experimenting with the seam attack by recalling Mark Wood, for Olly Stone, and Liam Plunkett, for Chris Woakes. Sam Curran could come in for his brother, Tom, as England rest players before the Test series.
England also want to look at Joe Denly, so captain Eoin Morgan could leave himself out, although resting Jason Roy is an option.
Having cut short his honeymoon to join the squad last week, Plunkett deserves to be picked, and also for Saturday’s Twenty20. His World Cup place is certain, but, for Wood, there are no such guarantees.
Stone was picked ahead of him for the start of this series and has shown that, on quicker pitches than those here, his pace will be a real threat. He has swung the new ball and showed he has some slower deliveries, too, although that aspect of his game needs a lot of work. Stone offers another option as Morgan ponders the few remaining gaps in his World Cup squad but he has taken only one wicket and Wood remains in the picture.
“It is good to have competition and I’m sure ‘Morgie’ is licking his lips at the fact there are these lads charging in at training and everyone is trying to impress him, but it can be frustrating when you are just on the outside with a World Cup around the corner,” said Wood.
“If I don’t do well here, I am one tour away from not making that World Cup squad. That’s something you build up for over four years, so, it means I’ve got to do the business. I’ve mixed emotions in that I know Olly really well. I spent time with him on a fast-bowling camp in South Africa. Great lad. Want him to do well. But on the other side, you want to be the guy in the team.”
England are 3-0 up and have won their ninth series in a row, but not one match in this series has gone the distance because of the rain. Moeen Ali has faced one ball, and was bowled by Lasith Malinga, Jos Buttler 25 balls and Ben Stokes 46.
Heavy thunderstorms are forecast today and the match is a daynight game, which adds to the risk because the wet weather normally hits in late afternoon. There is a reserve day, which was put in place in case the series went down to the wire, optimistic scheduling on behalf of the Sri Lankan board, given their team’s form.