England Vs Sri Lanka white ball

[sussexpob]

Winning tends to shut up your detractors, even if there are question marks over its value. SL had a pretty lousy effort in 2025 in the white ball game, losing multiple games to Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, so its hard to know what these victories mean translating into the future, but winning at the end of the day is winning...

I think some of the poor pitches suit this England side, who have proven not to have the capability to build big 100 innings recently, but who certainly have fire power.

[sussexpob]

One big question England do have is Bethell. Aside from the big 100 in the dead rubber Ashes game, his form for quite sometime has been pretty poor, averaging well under 20 since 2025 started in this format. He scored a 50 well under the game SR in Colombo in the 2nd ODI, but did not score more than 13 in the next 5 games.

Can we afford to have him at a key spot of 3 on this form ?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bethell did ok with the ball, but in this side, the top five needs to be scoring runs.

Brook doing well as captain!?

Spinners showing up well, but the pace bowlers are struggling.

[andy]

He just needs game time remember he barely played a game in 2025 yes he's partly to blame for that but he needs a long run of games and spend time in the middle

[alfie]

One big question England do have is Bethell. Aside from the big 100 in the dead rubber Ashes game, his form for quite sometime has been pretty poor, averaging well under 20 since 2025 started in this format. He scored a 50 well under the game SR in Colombo in the 2nd ODI, but did not score more than 13 in the next 5 games.

Can we afford to have him at a key spot of 3 on this form ?

I'd expect Bethell to be a bit up and down at this early stage of his International career , though the talent is obviously there. Not really sure number three is his right spot though - in any format. Perhaps the order might be shuffled a little : Banton and Brook moving up one each ? He also brings a useful extra spin option so surely a better bet than Duckett on recent form , no ?

[sussexpob]

I'd expect Bethell to be a bit up and down at this early stage of his International career , though the talent is obviously there. Not really sure number three is his right spot though - in any format. Perhaps the order might be shuffled a little : Banton and Brook moving up one each ? He also brings a useful extra spin option so surely a better bet than Duckett on recent form , no ?

England are somewhat hamstrung by their own selection, as they have picked 6 all-rounders and almost zero specialist batting cover in the squad. I guess the thinking behind that is they want small cameos across the lineup rather than rely on big innings at the top, and to be fair that is one way to win in T20Is so it might be shrewd.... But with Curran batting at 6 recently, I think you have to sacrifice a bowling allrounder to play every single top order bat you have, irrespective of form.

I would personally go Salt, Buttler, Duckett, Brook, Banton, Bethell, Curran..... and if they stick to a similar team as recently, I would rotate Overton and Jacks based on conditions. I don't really understand Jacks being there at the moment, he only bowls if the pitch is a total bunsen (at which point you have other options), and a handful of lower order runs at the bottom hardly feels efficient...

As an example he played one game last series where he didn't field or bat.... he's that type of pick. If he's batting, you are in trouble. If he's bowling, you are in trouble.