The world number one ranked England one-day international side will expect nothing less than a 5-0 victory against a hapless Sri Lankan outfit when the two teams start their series on 10th October in Dambulla.
Last time England toured Sri Lanka for ODIs in 2014, they were in some sort of a transition period as they were thrashed, 5-2 by a dominant Lankan outfit.
But, since then, things have changed dramatically in the last two years, the Brits have won 31 matches out of 42 games including two recent series wins against Australia, India at home while the Lankans have failed miserably, dropping down to 8th place in rankings, while losing to Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan recently.
With only eight months left for the ICC Cricket World Cup in their own den, England will be eying to continue their winning momentum in ODI cricket and give more confidence to their settled setup.
In contrast, the hosts, Sri Lanka will be looking to start a new era in ODI cricket under a new captain in Dinesh Chandimal after they sacked Angelo Mathews from captaincy and dropped him from the squad as well, citing poor fitness.
This will be a perfect opportunity for the hosts restore some pride after their diabolical showing at the Asia Cup in the UAE where they lost to Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
The three-match Test series, however, will be keenly fought with only eight ranking points separating the fourth-ranked England and sixth-ranked Sri Lanka.
With Rangana Herath set to retire at the end of the series, Sri Lanka will be hoping to give him a fitting farewell by recording a 3-0 whitewash which will also enable the hosts to overtake both England and New Zealand and move to number four.
England will be without Alastair Cook for a Test match for the first time since May 2006. Cook bowed out in style against India, scoring a century in his final Test innings in what was his 159th consecutive match.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad – Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera.
Sri Lanka Test Squad – Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Dimuth Karunarathne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya De Silva, Roshen Silva, Rangana Herath, Malinda Pushpakumara, Dilruwan Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara (Subject to Fitness), Kasun Rajitha.
England ODI Squad – Eoin Morgan (Captain), Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Ben Stokes, Tom Curran, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes, Olly Stone, Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett (Last Two Games Only)
England Test Squad – Joe Root (Captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
Full Schedule
1st ODI – 10th October – 2.30pm – Dambulla
2nd ODI – 13th October – 9.45am – Dambulla
3rd ODI – 17th October – 2.30pm – Pallekelle
4th ODI – 20th October – 9.45am – Pallekelle
5th ODI – 23rd October – 2.30pm – R. PremadasaOnly T20I – 27th October – 7.00pm – R. Premadasa
1st Test – 6th to 8th November – 10.00am – Galle
2nd Test – 14th to 18th November – 10.00am – Pallekelle
3rd Test – 23rd to 27th November – 10.00am – SSC
