CWC 2023: England vs Sri Lanka match preview

England in the 2023 World Cup have been a shadow of their former selves, managing only a solitary win against Bangladesh in their four outings. They are reeling in the bottom half of the points table in eighth. After heavy defeats versus New Zealand and Afghanistan, the 229-run loss to South Africa has dented their net run rate further, pushing it to -1.248. To make matters worse, Reece Topley has fractured his hand and will not participate in the rest of the tournament. Brydon Carse has been named as his replacement.

Sri Lanka opened their account with a win against the Netherlands in their previous match. They are placed just above England on the points table with the same number of points (2) from four games but possess a superior net run-run-rate of -1.048, owing to their better batting displays – 326 against South Africa and 344 against Pakistan. In their latest injury setback, veteran Angelo Matthews has replaced an injured Matheesha Pathirana for the rest of their campaign. Previously, they lost skipper Dasun Shanaka to a quadriceps tear.

ENG vs SL fantasy tips

# Although Kusal Mendis hasn’t delivered in his last two outings, his 76 off 42 against South Africa and 122 off 77 against Pakistan are enough to convince what he brings to the table. A big knock is due from the dashing Sri Lanka skipper. The Bengaluru belter is the perfect stage for it.

# Sadeera Samarawickrama has been the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka this season, racking up 230 runs from four matches at a staggering average of 76.66 while striking at 103.13. Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 91 steered his team home against the Netherlands. He also scored 108 (89) against Pakistan. The wicketkeeper-batter should be a no-brainer in the side.

# England are desperate for a win to revive their teetering campaign, and there isn’t a better crisis man than Ben Stokes. Although he missed the initial three matches due to a sore hip, a low score with the bat against South Africa on his return will motivate him to pull off something grand. Just an innings before this failure, he scored a career-best 182 against New Zealand in an ODI series.

# Dilshan Madushanka has scalped 11 victims in the World Cup 2023 and jointly reigns the third spot alongside Jasprit Bumrah on the wicket-takers list. He can defy the Chinnaswamy pitch, infamous for being a kryptonite for bowlers.

England vs Sri Lanka: Predicted XI

England: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c/wk), Liam Livingstone, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c/wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.

ENG vs SL: Dream11 team

Wicketkeepers: Kusal Mendis, Jos Buttler, Sadeera Samarawickrama

Batters: Kusal Perera, Ben Stokes, Dawid Malan

All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, Dunith Wellalage

Bowlers: Mark Wood, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madhushanka

Captaincy options: Kusal Mendis, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone

Potential swaps: Pathum Nissanka for Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow for Dilshan Madushanka