England v Sri Lanka ODIs: All you need to know

MATT WHILEY provides all the information you need ahead of the three-match ODI series between England and Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Cricket send three players home and suspend them from all cricket pending investigation into Covid-19 bio-security breach

What is it?

The three-match One Day International (ODI) series between England and Sri Lanka.

When is it?

First ODI: Tuesday, June 29 – Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street (11:00am BST)

Second ODI: Thursday, July 1 – Kia Oval, London (1:00pm BST)

Third ODI: Sunday, July 4 – Brightside Ground, Bristol (11:00am BST)

Where is it?

The series begins in the North East, with Durham’s Emirates Riverside in Chester-le-Street hosting the opening match. Following that, England play a white-ball game in London for the first time since the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final, with the second match hosted by Surrey’s Kia Oval. The three-match series then concludes in the northern suburbs of Bristol, at Gloucestershire’s Brightside Ground.

Who's involved?

England had named their squad for the ODI series prior to the T20I matches, but a late change arose when an injury to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler saw him replaced by Yorkshire batter Dawid Malan.

Warwickshire fast bowler Olly Stone was due to be named in the squad, but a stress fracture to his back has ruled him out for the season, resulting in Sussex quick George Garton earning his maiden call-up.

^{Dawid Malan replaces the injured Jos Buttler}

There is no place yet for Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes, who remains with his county side to continue his rehabilitation from a finger injury he suffered in the IPL in April.

However, there are recalls for Hampshire’s spinning all-rounder Liam Dawson, and two seam bowling all-rounders in Yorkshire’s David Willey and Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes.

Sri Lanka named a 24-man touring party for both series, with recalls for batter Oshada Fernando and fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, alongside maiden ODI call-ups for all-rounders Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya Lakshan, seamer Ishan Jayaratne, and spinner Praveen Jayawickrama.

However, they are now down to a pool of 20 and severely light on batters after an injury to Avishka Fernando in the second T20I saw him ruled out of the ODIs.

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Following that, a bio-bubble breach by Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, and Kusal Mendis saw all three suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket and flown home.

Hosts England are the current World Cup holders, but sit fourth in the ICC’s rankings after back-to-back 2-1 defeats in their last two ODI series, at home to Australia last September, and away to India in March.

Sri Lanka were also defeated in their last two ODI series, losing 2-1 in Bangladesh last month and 3-0 at home to the West Indies in March, and occupy ninth spot in the ICC’s rankings.

England: Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, George Garton, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama.

What are the odds?

Per Sky Bet, England are odds-on favourites at 1/33 to win the series, with Sri Lanka the rank outsiders at 12/1.

A 3-0 England whitewash victory is also available at an odds-on price, 4/11, but any confident Sri Lanka fans can also bet on their team springing a surprise and whitewashing the hosts at 66/1.

^{Niroshan Dickwella is one of three players suspended by Sri Lanka for breaching the bio-bubble in Durham}

Will fans be permitted?

After the three-match T20I series was played in front of crowds of up to 25 per cent capacity, the stands in Chester-le-Street, London, and Bristol look set to be a little more full as the UK government continues its events research programme into the return of capacity crowds.

It is unconfirmed, but the understanding is that stadiums could be up to 50 per cent full for the fixtures.

That would give the first ODI a theoretical maximum crowd of 8,500, the second just under 14,000, and the third 8,750.

Where can I follow it?

Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Talk Talk 404, BT TV 423, Virgin 504) will broadcast the series in the United Kingdom, with the content available online via its streaming platform Sky Go.

Test Match Special will provide live ball-by-ball commentary via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website, while BBC Two will broadcast hour-long TV highlights a few hours after each match’s conclusion.

Sri Lanka fans can tune in via SLRC and Sony Networks.

Sony TEN 2 and Sony TEN 2 HD is the place to watch the series for viewers in India.

Fox Sports and Channel 7 have the rights in Australia, while it is SKY Sport NZ who are carrying the games in New Zealand.

SuperSport will broadcast the matches in South Africa, Flow Sports in the Caribbean, and Willow TV in the United States.

Gazi TV and Rabbitholebd will supply footage in Bangladesh, and viewers in the Middle East and North Africa can watch via beIN Sports.