Joe Root
544 runs in the last 10 ODIs. Career average 50.5, strike rate 88.
The sides
| Measure | England | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 16617th of 20 | 16268th of 20 |
| Home advantage | +130Rating points | –Touring |
| XI caps | 718ODIs between the XI | 574ODIs between the XI |
| Top-seven average | 36.6ODI batting in England | 29.8ODI batting in England |
When England bat
+0.38 an overPowerplayOvers 1–10+0.05MiddleOvers 11–45+0.46DeathOvers 46–50+0.47
When Sri Lanka bat
+0.37 an overPowerplayOvers 1–10+0.40MiddleOvers 11–45+0.41DeathOvers 46–50−0.03
First innings
292England bat first
258Sri Lanka bat first
283Par
255Average here since 2019, 7 innings
351Highest here, England 2019
Jacks has England 1–0 up, but Headingley has not been kind to them
Will Jacks made 46 not out at Chester-le-Street and then took 5 for 22 in seven overs, the second-best ODI figures by an England spinner after Vic Marks's 5 for 20 in 1984. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 176 chasing 265, with 13 overs unused. England lead 1–0, a week after winning the T20Is 3–0, and we make them 71% to win at Headingley and take the series with a game to spare.
Headingley is where that could come unstuck. England were bowled out for 131 in 24.3 overs by South Africa here last September, and for 202 chasing Australia's 270 the year before. First innings here since 2019 have averaged 250, well short of par at 283, so a side batting first does not need a big total. Sri Lanka know it: at the 2019 World Cup they made 232 for 9 and beat England by 20 runs. The forecast is dry and cloudy, about 18°C.
What total is safe?
ODIs in England since 2019
First inningsDefended
Under 25026%6 of 23
250–27957%4 of 7
280–30988%7 of 8
310–33976%13 of 17
340+83%10 of 12
The case for England
- Jacks now has 15 ODI wickets, five of them from Tuesday. Two were Asalanka and Mendis, both lbw sweeping, and three more in one over ended the match.
- Going into the series, Root had 625 runs in his last ten ODIs at an average of 104, double his career 50.9, and Archer had 19 wickets in his last ten at 24.8 each.
Batting standout
Bowling standout
Jofra Archer
17 wickets in the last 10 ODIs. Career economy 5.14.
The case for Sri Lanka
- Kusal Mendis made 42 on Tuesday and Nissanka passed 3,000 ODI runs. Across their ten ODIs before the series they averaged 48.0 and 48.6.
- Theekshana concedes 4.40 runs an over in ODIs, the tightest career economy rate in either XI.
Batting standout
Pavan Rathnayake
506 runs in the last 10 ODIs. Career average 50.6, strike rate 100.
Bowling standout
Dilshan Madushanka
15 wickets in the last 10 ODIs. Career economy 6.22.