NEW DELHI: In a bid to rescue their beleaguered World Cup campaign, England face a pivotal match against Sri Lanka, which could serve as a final opportunity to steer their shipwrecked journey onto more favourable seas. England's World Cup journey has been marred by batting and bowling inconsistencies, leaving them with a meagre two points from four matches, similar to their upcoming opponents, Sri Lanka, and relegating them to ninth place on the table.
A victory in this encounter may not catapult them significantly up the rankings, but it could provide a much-needed morale boost before challenging fixtures against cricketing giants India and Australia. Conversely, a defeat against Sri Lanka would shatter even the slim lifeline of mathematical possibilities currently sustaining England's hopes in the tournament.
To steer clear of an early exit, England must undergo substantial improvements, especially across their batting lineup. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, with its short boundaries and runs-friendly pitch, offers an ideal backdrop for the English batters to reignite their form.
While England seek redemption, Sri Lanka too grapple with turmoil despite a recent five-wicket win over the Netherlands. They have been marred by injuries to two key players after four matches, including captain Dasun Shanaka and young pacer Matheesha Pathirana. However, the absence of these players does not weigh heavily, as their performances were not setting the stage ablaze.
Here's everything you need to know about the ICC ODI World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka:
What: England vs Sri Lanka, 2023 ODI World Cup 25th Match
When: October 26 (Thursday)
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Time: 1400 IST
Where to watch: Live stream/telecast on Disney Hotstar and Star Sports Networks
Where to follow Live: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports
Playing XI (Likely):
England: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c & wk), David Willey, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.
