It is time to prepare for Sri Lanka: passport, tickets, phone, even galoshes. A couple of decades ago Christopher Martin-Jenkins, who could mislay anything, made an indelible impression when he strode across a drenched outfield in Georgetown, Guyana, proudly wearing a pair of galoshes, packed expressly for that notoriously damp venue.
Colombo in November can be just as moist as Georgetown. There was time for some cricket on Friday when England played the first of two practice games before the seven-match series starts on Wednesday. But even then victory could be achieved at the Sinhalese Sports Club only via the Duckworth/Lewis method alongside a new English formula: the Cook/Moeen method.
It was only a practice match against Sri Lanka A but it had some significance – especially for Moeen Ali. He was selected as Alastair Cook’s opening partner. First, though, he took three for 29 with his fast-improving off-breaks. Then he hit the first six legitimate balls delivered by Vishwa Fernando for four, ending up with 56 from 37 balls. So this looks like an experiment that may have to be pursued and poses ever more questions for the England hierarchy as they try to establish their best XI for ODI cricket. Of course, flexibility is to be encouraged but this rarely stretches to chopping and changing the opening air according to conditions.
So what of Alex Hales, recently introduced to the ODI side to provide an aggressive option at the top of the order? Could he bat elsewhere? Could Cook or Moeen? There are plenty of questions, which might be answered if it stays dry in Sri Lanka. Ravi Bopara was omitted from the first game. What is his future? He is often described as a “finisher”, though this definition surely sits more comfortably with James Faulkner, who conjured another Australian victory over South Africa on Friday.
There are so many combinations open to England, which betrays their current frailty and this applies to the bowlers as well as the batsmen. Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson are currently absent, nursing weary bodies, but they will be back for the World Cup, which means that a couple of the current tourists are vulnerable. Chris Jordan and the one-dimensional, though usefully left-handed, Harry Gurney are probably the ones who need to impress the most over the next four weeks if they are to make the World Cup squad.
Last summer Sri Lanka beat England 3-2 in a fiery series, which should ensure that Jos Buttler contemplates his backing-up when non-striker. They are usually even more formidable at home. However, they have a few problems at present. Their confidence may also be dented. After the premature departure of the West Indies from India Sri Lanka were on hand to fill the void as last-minute replacements. This was always going to be a tricky assignment and they lost the series 5-0. Moreover two key bowlers are absent: Lasith Malinga is injured and Sachitra Senanayake is compelled to remodel his action. Even so, it would be some achievement – and a much-needed boost to morale – if England were to return victorious.
It must be hoped that the weather behaves better than anticipated. There is only so much bonding and thinking that can be done inside a rain-swept Sri Lankan hotel. And, for the record, your correspondent has no galoshes.
