Chris Tremlett: Sri Lanka series win heightens England’s healthy selection headache ahead of the World Cup
The subcontinent is a difficult place to go and win matches, regardless of the opposition, so England will be delighted with their 3-1 one-day international series victory over Sri Lanka.
Monsoon season hasn’t helped, but in between the showers England have put in some really good performances.
They lost the final ODI by a record 219 runs on Tuesday, but I don’t think they’ll be too concerned as they made three changes – including dropping captain Eoin Morgan – and that can be disruptive.
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With the series already won it was a perfect opportunity to try other things. The nature of the defeat was disappointing but they won’t dwell on it because of the bigger picture.
I admire Morgan, who has been magnanimous by showing nobody is bigger than the team. He has earned a lot of respect through his actions since becoming skipper. He’s a great man to have around and everyone feeds off him.
Eoin Morgan sat out of the final ODI, allowing vice-captain Jos Buttler to lead the side (Source: Getty)
He’s been a huge factor in taking the side forward and when he’s playing well, like he has been recently with a score of 92 and three other unbeaten knocks, it’s an even better position to be in.
There have been questions over his place in the side previously, but those have been emphatically answered: he deserves to play as a middle-order batsman and captain.
Confidence
We know England have these batting collapses in them due to their aggressive nature, but having sealed another series the feeling around the camp will be positive.
It is great for their confidence because now they have the wood over another side in one-day internationals. Sri Lanka can be added to West Indies, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India, who they have all beaten in their nine-series winning streak over the past two years.
Rain was a constant feature of the series, but couldn't prevent another England victory (Source: Getty)
Every experience of beating different opposition in different conditions is helpful as it adds to the squad’s confidence and opponent knowledge bank. It all bodes well for the 2019 World Cup, which everything is building towards.
England have proven their consistency and are undoubtedly the team to beat. Previously in the late 1990s and early 2000s they would struggle against the likes of Australia, having talked themselves out of it by remembering past defeats.
Selection headache
The Sri Lanka series has heightened coach Trevor Bayliss’s selection headache. The batting is looking strong and positions are pretty much settled, with only Alex Hales challenging for a top-order spot.
But the bowling department has a healthy squabble for places and I really think it’s up for grabs.
Olly Stone has shown potential. He deepens the reserves of fast bowlers and that’s crucial, because places for the World Cup will depend on fitness and form.
Liam Plunkett missed the first three ODIs due to his wedding (Source: Getty)
With games coming thick and fast next summer, rotation is likely and they now have the option of picking horses for courses too. For example, if the pitch is slightly slow, David Willey and the Curran brothers, Tom and Sam, might be preferred, while Stone and Mark Wood can be real weapons on a quicker surface if firing.
Personally I wouldn’t stray too far from the successful formula built over the 41 wins from 54 games since June 2016, but it’s a healthy position to be in.