David Willey's return, what next for Tom Curran, and how competitive can Sri Lanka be? ODI THINGS TO WATCH

MATT WHILEY looks at the key talking points ahead of the three-match one-day international series between England and Sri Lanka, which is due to begin in Durham on Tuesday

England v Sri Lanka: ODI series all you need to know

David Willey’s return

Even by his own admission, David Willey’s recall to the England white-ball squad after being left out for the winter tours of South Africa and India came as something of a surprise.

Willey’s most recent ODI caps for his country came in the three-match series against Ireland in the bio-secure world of last summer, but prior to last week’s second T20I against Sri Lanka, they were his only international appearances since May 2019.

He missed out on selection for the successful World Cup campaign that year, and did not tour with the national team in the winters of 2019 or 2020.

“It was unexpected to be honest,” he told Yorkshire’s official website when asked about this latest call-up, but for those who have been tracking his progress this season, it shouldn’t have been.

Willey has a Vitality Blast batting average of 57.00 and a bowling average of 18.00 from his four matches so far this season, cementing his place as one of the country’s premier white-ball all-rounders.

Should he play any of the three games against Sri Lanka, he will make his 50th ODI appearance, and he also told Yorkshire’s website that he would like his father Peter to give him that milestone cap.

Whether England can make that happen remains to be seen, but if Willey continues his personal knack of being able to make things happen with his nagging left-arm swing and lower-order hitting, he might soon be considering which personal figure he would like to present him with the next milestone.

^{David Willey is looking to earn his 50th ODI cap}

George Garton finally comes of age

Twenty-four-year-old fast bowler George Garton has consistently put up domestic numbers befitting of an international call-up. Blessed with raw pace, he also has a handy ability to add valuable runs down the order.

Who was the last man to come out of Hove who could be described a similar way? But of course, the one who bowled the super over that handed England victory in the World Cup final two years ago.

Garton has played 24 List A matches for Sussex, snaring 29 wickets, and in past seasons has been recognised with a call-up to the England Under-19s.

However, with the main England side blessed with a glut of quality pace bowlers in recent times, he has been forced to wait for his moment in the sun, until now.

If Garton can underline his credentials as an international-quality fast bowler, it not only signals to England that they have strength in depth, but it sends a message to the rest of the world that the Three Lions’ white-ball dominance is here to stay.

^{George Garton could make his England debut}

Does Tom Curran have a point to prove?

When England unearthed Tom Curran, shortly before his brother Sam, the hype was quite something. A man who could bowl seemingly infinite variations, whose toe-crushing yorker was as good as his shorter, slower ball.

Yet, that was four years ago, and although Curran has been a mainstay of the England T20 side since then, his stock at present seems to be waning.

Despite being in the squad for last week’s T20 series, Curran was not selected for any of the three matches, and the timing of being frozen out could hardly be worse for him.

Eoin Morgan is not known for carrying passengers, and if Curran wants to prove his worth with a white ball in hand for England, he must grasp any chance that comes his way, starting with this ODI series.

^{Tom Curran missed out during the T20 series}

How competitive will the series be?

While England’s red-ball side has just experienced a humbling at the hands of eventual World Test champions New Zealand, last week’s T20 series was quite the opposite.

There barely seemed to be a moment across any of the three games where England looked anything other than comfortable. While the home fans who attended the three games in Cardiff and Southampton may have enjoyed the spectacle, there are questions as a result of such dominance.

England continued with their rotation policy, with Chris Jordan the only man to bowl his full four overs in all three games. Despite missing several key members of their squad in the final match of the series, they were still able to complete a crushing victory.

Whether such series are useful or not for England is another matter, but it suits everyone involved if these upcoming 50-over games feature considerably closer gameplay.

Fundamentally, the main reason that closer games are beneficial is to prevent England from becoming complacent. Chris Silverwood must know his best side, and be able to rely upon it, because when the likes of Australia, India, and New Zealand come knocking, they will scarcely be as forgiving.

And with Sri Lanka missing three players - Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka - after they were sent home for breaching Covid-19 bio-security protocols, the task ahead of the tourists is a massive one.