England and Sri Lanka face off in a crucial World Cup 2023 match, with both teams desperate for a victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Historically England dominates this ODI rivalry, but Sri Lanka’s spinners could pose problems on turning Indian pitches.
Both teams have struggled so far, with England winning just 1 of their 4 matches, while Sri Lanka have 1 victory in 4 games too. England’s batting led by Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan needs to fire, while Sri Lanka will rely on the batting prowess of Kusal Mendis.
With their tournament survival on the line, expect a hard-fought contest between two talented yet underperforming teams. Fans hope veterans like Joe Root and Angelo Mathews rise to the occasion to make it an exciting clash.
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England Overview
England entered the World Cup as one of the favorites but have failed to find consistency, apart from Dawid Malan. The batting unit led by skipper Jos Buttler needs to step up and post challenging totals.
The bowling attack has been decent, with Reece Topley the standout taking 8 wickets so far. However, containing Sri Lanka’s spin trio of Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage and Dhananjaya De Silva will test England.
With Ben Stokes and Mark Wood returning from injury, England will feel more confident. But the failures of Buttler and Livingstone remain a concern. Overall, England have the talent but desperately need key players to perform.
Sri Lanka Overview
Sri Lanka’s hopes rest heavily on the batting exploits of the talented Kusal Mendis, who has been sublime with 218 runs in 4 matches. Other batsmen like Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal must provide solid support.
The bowling unit led by Dilshan Madushanka has been economical, using spin and slower balls to stifle teams. Maheesh Theekshana has complemented Madushanka well.
However, Sri Lanka’s fielding remains a worry, with dropped catches costing them in crunch moments. With captain Dasun Shanaka under pressure, the experienced Angelo Mathews’ return bolsters the batting lineup.
Overall, Sri Lanka have the spinners to challenge England but their batsmen must step up.
England vs. Sri Lanka Starting XI
Expected Starting XI for England:
- Jonny Bairstow
- Dawid Malan
- Joe Root
- Ben Stokes
- Harry Brook
- Jos Buttler (c) (wk)
- Liam Livingstone
- Sam Curran
- Adil Rashid
- Mark Wood
- Reece Topley
Expected Starting XI for Sri Lanka:
- Kusal Perera
- Kusal Mendis (c) (wk)
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Charith Asalanka
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Dushan Hemantha
- Chamika Karunaratne
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Kasun Rajitha
- Pathum Nissanka
- Dilshan Madushanka
England are set to welcome back Mark Wood and Ben Stokes, providing bowling firepower and late hitting. Openers Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow may be retained despite failures. Joe Root, Harry Brook and Moeen Ali will form the steadying middle order.
Sri Lanka should field an unchanged XI, relying on in-form batsmen Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva and Pathum Nissanka for runs. The spin trio of Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage and Dhananjaya De Silva will be key.
See the confirmed starting lineups below an hour before the match starts.
EN vs. SL Head-to-Head
England and Sri Lanka share a rich ODI history, having faced off 78 times dating back to the 1975 World Cup. Overall, England holds a narrow 43-36 edge, with one tie and three no results.
However, since 2013, Sri Lanka has begun reversing the trend in recent meetings. In their last 12 completed ODI clashes, Sri Lanka boasts a 7-5 advantage over England. This includes a memorable quarter-final upset in the 2011 World Cup, where Sri Lanka successfully chased down England’s 229/6 without no loss and 63 balls left.
In World Cup meetings, England edges the overall record 6-5 over 11 matches. But Sri Lanka scored a dramatic 20-run win in their most recent 2019 World Cup clash, defending a moderate 232/9 successfully.
Sri Lanka’s array of spinners stifled England’s ultra-aggressive batting approach in that game. With the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dhananjaya de Silva thriving again, the Lankans will back themselves to foil England again.
However, England have statistically dominated matches when posting 300+ run totals, overwhelming Sri Lanka’s spinners. With power hitters like Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali, they have the firepower to do so.
Overall, the head-to-head shows Sri Lanka can no longer be taken lightly by England, especially in spinning subcontinental conditions. Riding on the 2019 upset, Sri Lanka will believe they can use their spinners to nail England again. But if England’s batting fires, their bowling attack has the variety to defend big totals. This match promises another thrilling chapter in this storied ODI rivalry.
Weather & Pitch Report
The match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Weather is expected to be optimal for cricket with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius and minimal chance of rain.
The Chinnaswamy pitch tends to favor batsmen, with relatively short square boundaries. The average first innings score is 235 in ODIs. However, teams batting second have won more here.
Dew could play a role in the evening, requiring spinners to adjust their lengths. With a relatively even contest between bat and ball expected, another high scoring match seems likely.
Both teams would want to chase and make the most of batting second. Overall, fans can hope for a thrill-a-minute contest with strokeplay dominating.
England vs. Sri Lanka Prediction
Based on recent form and ICC rankings, England should start as marginal favorites in this crucial World Cup tie. Their batting unit led by Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan packs power, while Mark Wood strengthens the bowling lineup.
However, Sri Lanka’s clever spinners could stifle England’s free-scoring approach. The likely return of Angelo Mathews also boosts the inexperienced Lankan batting lineup.
England’s over-reliance on Buttler and Malan remains a concern, while Sri Lanka’s fielding could let them down.
Overall, in what promises to be a competitive clash, England should just about edge the win if their batting fires. But if Sri Lanka can contain the scoring early and let their spinners take over, they could pull off an upset similar to the 2019 World Cup.
England vs. Sri Lanka Betting Tip
With England’s batting misfiring, Jos Buttler is due for a big knock. Back him to top score for England with an aggressive 70+ runs innings. His match-turning ability makes him a safe bet.
For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis’ sublime form makes him likely to notch another 50+ score. At 3/1 odds for top Sri Lankan batsman, he is a steal.
Among bowlers, England’s Mark Wood should make an instant impact on return. Expect him to blow away Sri Lanka’s top order with his pace and pick up 2-3 wickets.
For Sri Lanka, mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana is a strong bet for top wicket-taker. His variations will trouble the English batsmen.
Considering the batting pitch and attacking batters on show, betting on a high scoring over 300 runs match is advisable. With dew likely, the team chasing should emerge victorious.
Backing an England win or Sri Lankan upset provides good odds. For safer returns, choose England to win with over 340 team runs scored.
Bet on the highest individual score over 104.5 runs at Parimatch at odds 1.85>>
If you want to check out our other Cricket World Cup match predictions, you can find them on our site. In the meantime, you can check out how to bet on the Cricket World Cup.
