England looking for historic maiden ODI series win

England could clinch an historic maiden one-day series triumph in Sri Lanka if they win the fourth ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium under lights today.

It would also be their first one-day triumph on the subcontinent since winning in Pakistan in 1986-87.

“In our team meetings it’s popped up a couple of times that we could be the first side to win on the subcontinent for 20 years,” said seamer Stuart Broad, whose unbeaten 20 edged England to victory at Dambulla on Sunday and gve them a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

“Sri Lanka haven’t lost at home for a long time - and if we play well in these next two games we’ve won the series. If we get our basics right it doesn’t matter where we play in the world - we can win.”

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have injury problems of their own after seam bowler Farveez Maharoof suffered a back spasm during Sunday’s game.
He is receiving treatment but the home side will not make a decision on his fitness until shortly before the start of the match. If Maharoof fails to come through right-arm leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi is likely to take his place.

Spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, meanwhile, will not be pressed into service unless he is 100% recovered from the biceps injury which kept him out of the first three matches.

“We’re not going to rush him. He’s started bowling a bit but once our physio goes back to Colombo and sees how he is and how he comes through practice we’ll assess him then,” said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.

“Murali has to be hundred per cent,” said Jayawardene. “We will have to see whether we definitely need him because he is very important to us in the five Test matches we have got ahead of us.

“We will see how he is but we are not going to rush him. He has started bowling a bit but our physio will see how he is and how he comes through practice.”

Collingwood to have shoulder scan
England captain Paul Collingwood is to have a scan on a right shoulder injury suffered in the first match of the one-day series in Sri Lanka.
Collingwood bowled 15 overs in the next two matches, which England won but the niggle has not gone away and he has now gone to a Colombo hospital to find out the severity of the injury.
England expected the results on Tuesday and are confident Collingwood will be fit for today’s match. – [BBC]