England's defence of their Cricket World Cup crown is in tatters following three defeats from four round-robin matches but Jos Buttler's team are strong favourites to regain the winning thread when they take on Sri Lanka in Bangalore at 9:30 am on Thursday.
The reigning champions have suffered losses against New Zealand, Afghanistan and most recently by a crushing 229 runs against South Africa, but the Lankans haven't fared any better and defeat for either at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium would spell the end for their slender hopes.
- England to have the highest opening partnership
- Dilshan Madushanka top Sri Lanka wicket-taker
- Harry Brook over 0.5 match sixes
Opening Partnership Crucial For England
Given their poor form in the tournament so far, England look on the short side in the match betting but there's no denying their firepower when everything clicks and a better bet could be to support them in the highest opening partnership market.
With Jason Roy left out of the squad, things haven't gone entirely to plan for Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan, but England's opening duo still put on 40 for the first wicket in defeat to New Zealand then 115 in the win over Bangladesh, when Malan went on to score 140.
While they have failed to fire in two subsequent innings, it's unlikely that England will break up their top pairing and they should respond in Bangalore, where David Warner and Mitchell Marsh put on 259 for the opening wicket in Australia's win over Pakistan.
Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera put on 125 against Australia but at least one of them has been dismissed for single figures in their other three World Cup innings.
ENGLAND HIGHEST OPENING PARTNERSHIP
Bairstow and Malan crucial
Madushanka To Lead Lankan Attack
If one Sri Lanka bowler can take advantage of England's batting struggles, it could well be Dilshan Madushanka, who has been enjoying an excellent World Cup campaign.
The left-arm seamer has taken 11 wickets in four matches and has been particularly impressive in his last two outings, claiming 3-38 against Australia and then 4-49 to help Sri Lanka to their sole victory over the Netherlands on Saturday morning.
The 23-year-old, who only made his debut at the beginning of this year, could enjoy himself at a stadium where Pakistan left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi took five wickets against Australia.
MADUSHANKA TOP SRI LANKAN WICKET-TAKER
Madushanka to continue good form
Brook To Clear The Ropes
England kept faith with Harry Brook in the defeat to South Africa and he could repay that decision if he gets the nod to face Sri Lanka, where he looks decent value to hit at least one six.
Yorkshireman Brook has failed to capitalise on his starts in the World Cup so far, scoring 25, 20 66 and 17 in his four innings, but he fired at least one six in three of his four knocks in the tournament.
England's desire to remain aggressive means that Brook is unlikely to be asked to rein himself in and the talented middle-order man can clear the ropes at a ground which saw 25 sixes in Australia's win over Pakistan.
HARRY BROOK OVER 0.5 MATCH SIXES
