01/22/26 03:07:00
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01/22 03:03 CST Sri Lanka bats 1st in 1st ODI against England
Sri Lanka bats 1st in 1st ODI against England
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) --- Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in the
first one-day international of the three-match series against England on
Thursday.
England had to make a last-minute change as Will Jacks was ruled out due to
illness and legpinner 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 spin options for England.
England skipper Harry Brook said he would have liked to bat first, "but it is
what it is." Brook believed Sri Lanka is a strong side in its own conditions
and he was looking forward to the challenge.
Sri Lanka test captain Dhananjaya de Silva returns to ODIs since last playing
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.
"Looks a good pitch, want a good score on the board," Sri Lanka captain Charith
Asalanka said at the toss while confirming that Hasaranga was rested for the
World Cup.
Sri Lanka also went in with two specialist spinners Dunith Wellalage and
Jeffery Vandersay in a hope the wicket will suit the slow bowlers. De Silva and
Asalanka are the two off-spinners in hosts' starting lineup.
It is the first international series for England since it lost 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
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