England bat first in Oval ODI decider against Sri Lanka
England have won the toss and elected to bat in the third and deciding men's one-day international against Sri Lanka at The Oval. Jordan Cox replaces injured Jos Buttler as Harry Brook's side chase a series win after Sri Lanka's 16-run triumph at Headingley leveled the contest.
Key Takeaways
- England won the toss and chose to bat in Sunday's Oval series decider, starting at 10:30 BST.
- Jordan Cox keeps wicket in place of injured Jos Buttler; Liam Dawson and Sonny Baker also enter the XI.
- Sri Lanka are unchanged after defending 321 for 6 to win the second ODI by 16 runs at Headingley.
- Kusal Mendis's 121 and Dunith Wellalage's 3 for 49 set up Thursday's thriller that forced this decider.
- Brook says facing a series-deciding game will only benefit England ahead of bigger white-ball moments.
Why does this Oval ODI matter for England?
The English international summer wraps at The Oval in a winner-takes-all finale. After Sri Lanka leveled the Metro Bank ODI series with a hard-fought Headingley win, Brook's team face their third series decider of the year.
They handled the first two well, beating Sri Lanka and India after posting 357 for 3 and 387 for 3. Brook told the BBC after Headingley that tight games matter and that the chance to play in a decider will help England as they build toward next year's 50-over World Cup.
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Who starts for England and Sri Lanka?
Injured Jos Buttler is replaced by Jordan Cox, who plays his first ODI since a tough Caribbean tour two years ago. Liam Dawson and Sonny Baker also come into the XI; Rehan Ahmed and Josh Tongue drop out.
England's XI: Banton, Duckett, Root, Brook (c), Cox (wk), Jacks, Dawson, Atkinson, Overton, Archer, Baker. Sri Lanka, unsurprisingly, are unchanged from Headingley: Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c/wk), Rathnayake, Asalanka, Liyanage, Wellalage, Colombage, Malinga, Fernando, Madushanka.
Brook's call to bat first is notable on a late-September 10:30 BST start, according to The Guardian's live coverage.
How did Sri Lanka force a series decider?
At Headingley, Sri Lanka made 321 for 6. Captain Kusal Mendis scored 121 and Kamindu Mendis added 54. England replied with 305 for 9—Banton 73, Buttler 69, Duckett 67, Jacks 52—before falling 16 runs short.
England were cruising needing 68 from 75 when Buttler retired hurt with a hamstring twinge on 67 from 45. Wellalage's 3 for 49 had already removed Duckett, Banton and Brook. After Ahmed, Atkinson and Overton fell, Buttler limped back needing 27 from 14, but Sri Lanka's death bowling sealed a famous away win.
That result—Sri Lanka's first away ODI win against England in seven years, also at Headingley—sets up Sunday's Oval climax with both sides unchanged in intent and England reshuffled by Buttler's absence.