Can Sri Lanka's spinners exploit England's old weakness in Rawalpindi?
England's batting gave way to a left-arm spinner on Tuesday, which makes Sri Lanka's team sheet for Thursday more interesting than usual.
Sri Lanka vs England
Sri Lanka and England have both lost to Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium this week, and on Thursday they meet at the same ground, both in need of a win. England's defeat on Tuesday laid bare an old weakness. They were 91 without loss and looking comfortable, and then the left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas took 6 for 40. England’s last seven wickets went like pegs off a washing line in a squall.
How England bat against left-arm spin
Minhas exploited a weakness England have had for a while. In men's ODIs since January 2023, England have averaged 28.3 against left-arm orthodox spin, compared to 32.4 for all Full Member sides.
Sri Lanka have the bowlers to test this. Against Pakistan on Sunday, they left out Dunith Wellalage, their left-arm spinner, and Maheesh Theekshana, whose 68 ODI wickets in that time are the most by any Sri Lankan bowler in this squad. The leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage bowled as their only specialist spinner and went wicketless, so Thursday's team sheet will be of interest.
Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka's captain and wicketkeeper
Kusal Mendis already carries the gloves and the captaincy, and with Pathum Nissanka out of the series and Wanindu Hasaranga injured, he carries more of the batting responsibility too. He has scored more ODI runs than any other Sri Lankan batter since January 2023. England saw the best of him in September, when his 121 at Headingley won him the player-of-the-match award.
He is at his most dangerous against spin, averaging 49.6 compared to 37.8 against pace. With Jofra Archer rested, it is on England's other seamers to find a way past him.
- Kusal Mendis to be Sri Lanka's top batter 9/4
Joe Root at No. 3 for England
England are without Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell, who are both injured, and that puts more of the load on Joe Root. Since January 2023, he has averaged 52.4 in ODIs, and against spin of all kinds his average climbs to 63.7. On Thursday, how he performs against the Sri Lankan spinners could be a key turning point.
- Joe Root to be England's top batter 5/2
What will decide Sri Lanka vs England?
Sri Lanka on Sunday and England on Tuesday both won the toss and chose to put Pakistan in. Pakistan passed 300 each time, and both sides lost.
Thursday could turn on whether Sri Lanka bring back the spinners who sat out on Sunday, and then on how well Root can carry England's batting against them. England start as favourites, but a Sri Lanka attack built around Wellalage's left-arm spin would ask them the same question Minhas asked on Tuesday, and the afternoon may turn out to be a good deal less comfortable for England than they would hope.
Prices correct at time of writing.