England, Lanka Begin Series With Focus On World Cup
- Sri Lanka – England ODI Series
Both Sri Lanka and England are set to begin a seven-match ODI series with their focus not merely on winning the series but also ending up with settled teams and strategies for the World Cup which begins in February next year.
Both captains England’s Alastair Cook and Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews have stressed that the series would be a good preparation for the World Cup which is being held in Australia and New Zealand.
At the end of the series, England travel to Australia for a tri-series with the hosts and South Africa as their final preparation before the big event whilst Sri Lanka will visit New Zealand as part of their final preparations.
Cook has vowed to try and win a seven-match series in a tit-for-tat revenge against Sri Lanka ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Speaking to reporters at the start of the ODI series, Cook said he wants to do to Sri Lanka what skipper Angelo Mathews did to him by winning an ODI series in England in June.
He said he also wants to use the series to demonstrate the team’s abilities and was keenly focused on winning and climbing the rankings.
“Yes, there is a World Cup at the end of it, but we are here to try and win this series. We are desperate to get that,” he said pointing to the tournament trophy.
“I think we owe you (Sri Lanka) a little bit of revenge,” he said referring to England’s home loss.
Mathews wants a settled side to face England in their limited-overs series starting next week, and “flush out” the scars of their recent 5-0 whitewash at the hands of India where they were totally outplayed and only Mathews returned with an enhanced reputation.
Mathews conceded the India tour, organized at the last minute after the West Indies pulled out of its India tour, was disappointing but said it was important to “flush it out of the system soon.”
Angelo Mathews wants settled Sri Lanka for England series
Sri Lanka went into the India series without experienced bowlers, and also suffered without a steady opening pair.
But Mathews said one series loss won’t make his team bad, and he looks forward to doing well against England, which won its last series in Sri Lanka 3-2, in 2007.
“I agree that we had a disappointing series in India but one series won’t make us a bad team. We are really looking forward for the England series and we will try our best to fix our problems. We have not yet finalized our squad and one area we would discuss a lot on selection will be our opening pair and we will try out some new options to get a fixed lineup after this series. “
Cook said they’re desperate to ratchet up their preparation for the Cricket World Cup, which starts in three months, and haven’t forgotten losing the series-decider in June at Edgbaston, a match overshadowed by Sachithra Senanayake running out Jos Buttler while the batsman was backing up.
“Sri Lanka played some really good cricket in England,” Cook said, “and we are desperate to try and get that trophy back, that’s why we are here.”
Both captains played down some of the issues that surfaced when the two sides last played each other.
“We had a good time in England but, yes there were few controversies but it is all part and parcel of the game. We have a good relationship with the English players and as always, we will play hard and try to win the series. “ said Mathews.
Alastair Cook unhesitatingly responded to his opposing captain and the audience, “I second that.” He said.
Unfortunately the series has been scheduled for the rainy season in Sri Lanka and although there are provisions for extra days for most games it appears that the weather may have the final say in the series.
Players and fans will need to keep their fingers crossed and hope that the weather Gods will permit maximum playing opportunity.
