For the initial phase of the tournament, rain was the major talking point. However, for the last few days, it has been raining sixes in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. This tournament has battled not only abandoned matches but also some one-sided contests.
The team which will fight it out against Sri Lanka on Friday turned up with a record-breaking performance against Afghanistan. Hosts England haven’t put a foot wrong in the tournament so far after their early stumble against Pakistan and against Afghanistan they showed why they have grabbed everyone’s attention and are being called “favourites”.
Morgan himself had hit 17 sixes against Afghanistan despite having a sore back, and keeping the injury issues aside England look a fine side, well balanced and hungry for wins. Sri Lanka, at the same time, haven’t had a phenomenal tournament. They have lost, they have been upset about the weather and in general, they have been complaining.
They come into the match placed sixth at the points tally aided by two useful points from washed out matches. Their only win was a scratchy one against a hapless Afghanistan at the Sophia Gardens, Manchester.
Although Sri Lanka’s destiny in this World Cup is still in their own hands, they will have to turn up on the field ready to play their skins out in order to keep their hopes of a semi-final place alive. Although skipper Dimuth Karunaratne did a commendable job against Australia, the lack of form from their middle order and a bowling unit spearheaded by a bowler past his prime, Lasith Malinga, are massive reasons for Sri Lanka to contemplate and find a solution in their remaining matches.
The venue will help Sri Lanka’s cause. Headingley was exactly the same place where Sri Lanka registered a famous Test series win way back in 2014 but England have come a long way ahead since then beating Sri Lanka in all three forms of the game last year.
England in this World Cup have been ruthless. They have posted two of the highest totals this World Cup. The World Cup has so far seen 10 centurions – four of them from the home team and against Afghanistan they didn’t even need Jason Roy, the star batsman who has been ruled out for a couple of matches because of an injury.
Two points from this match will take the hosts to 10 and the reason to believe that they have secured a place in the semis.
The teams meet at the Headingley Cricket Ground and action begins from 3 pm (IST) onwards.
Squads:
England: Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes,James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Nuwan Pradeep, Avishka Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay