SRI LANKA vs ENGLAND: All you need to know ahead of the ODI series on the subcontinent

England take on Sri Lanka in five one-day international matches over the coming weeks. The Cricketer has all the viewing information, team news and dreaded weather forecast...

^{England captain Eoin Morgan}

WHAT IS IT?

England's one-day international tour of Sri Lanka. Don't you even look at the headlines?

WHEN IS IT?

The five-match series begins on Wednesday, October 10 in Dambulla, with England's cricketers also playing games in Pallekelle and Colombo.

Keep up to date with the national side's upcoming games right here.

WHO IS PLAYING?

England have named a 16-man squad for the series, with uncapped seamer Olly Stone among the number.

Stone will act as cover for Liam Plunkett during the first three games. Surrey bowler Plunkett will be absent for the first part of the campaign due to a clash with his wedding.

England squad: Eoin Morgan (Captain, Middlesex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, made the surprise to decision to strip Angelo Mathews of the captaincy and drop him from the squad for the series.

Dinesh Chandimal skippers the side.

Sri Lanka squad: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Upul Tharanga, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Malinga, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha.

Sri Lanka have dropped Angelo Mathews

WHAT FORM ARE THE TWO TEAMS IN?

England are the No.1 50-over side in world cricket, having won eight of their nine most recent bilateral ODI series (the defeat coming in a one-off game against Scotland last summer).

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have lost seven and won five of their past 12 matches.

WHAT TIMES ARE THE MATCHES

There are some early rises for those wishing to watch or listen to all the action. See below for full details.

1st ODI: Wednesday October 10 - 10am BST

2nd ODI: Saturday October 13 - 5.15am

3rd ODI: Wednesday, October 17 - 10am

4th ODI: Saturday October 20 - 5.15am

5th ODI: Tuesday October 23 - 10am

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAMES?

For UK viewers, the series will be televised live by Sky Sports, via their Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket channels (channel 404, Sky Go or via Now TV).

For listeners, there is no ball-by-ball coverage on Test Match Special. TalkSPORT have acquired the live rights, with commentary of the opening game of the ODI series to be aired via TalkSPORT2. Mark Nicholas and Darren Gough will front the coverage, with guests including Nasser Hussain, Mike Atherton, Matt Prior and Gareth Batty.

TalkSPORT have promised no adverts will be aired during live action.

TalkSPORT2 is only available via DAB digital radios or through internet streaming via the broadcaster's website.

BBC Sport have introduced a new show to run parallel to the matches, which they are at pains to stress does not represent commentary from TV images. A selection of familiar voices will take part in The Cricket Social, accessible through the BBC website during the hours of play.

It is rainy season in Sri Lanka

WHAT'S THE WEATHER FORECAST?

Hmm. Not great. There is a minimum 85 per cent chance of rain, of some kind, during the first ODI on Wednesday, with humidity almost tipping 100 per cent. This is the problem with touring the island during monsoon season.

As for the longer-term forecast, it looks like the entire series is going to be a slave to Duckworth-Lewis. There are reserve days for two of the games - the second and fifth - but how much play we see is in the lap of Mother Nature. And she's a little weepy.

WHO'S THE FAVOURITE?

If you really fancy a punt on a weather-affected, subcontinental series against a hugely unpredictable opposition, the best prices you can get are 2/5 for an overall England win and 19/10 on Sri Lanka.