If they were to win in Colombo, they would become just the third touring team to complete a 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka, after Australia in 2004 and India in 2017.

That would complete a year that began with an innings-defeat in Sydney as England slipped to a 4-0 defeat in the Ashes. They then lost in New Zealand and went a record 13 Test matches without a win.

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“It’s been quite a journey for this group of players in the Test team,” said Root. “We did start in difficult circumstances and we weren’t playing our best cricket, but we’ve found a way to get to a really strong position.

“There have been a few changes along the way, but as a group we’ve found a way we want to go about things and it’s been really pleasing everyone has bought into that and given us a great opportunity to now, hopefully, win this series 3-0.”

That victory would represent a major staging post in the progress of the side’s standing and confidence, Root said.

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“It would be massive for this team. We’ve played some good cricket over this winter and it would be a good opportunity to show we can be more consistent.

“Also, there’s only been two other sides who have won 3-0 out here in Test cricket so it would be a brilliant achievement and fill us with a huge amount of confidence going into the rest of the winter.”