With 'totally different outlook', Morgan's England put 2014 woes behind them
On their last tour to the island nation, England struggled in a 5-2 ODI series defeat. It was a sign of things to come at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, where they were knocked out in the group stage.
Since then, however, they have completely turned around their white-ball game, vaulting to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings.
"It's going to be a tough series and Sri Lanka will have to be on the top of their game" – @KumarSanga2 on the upcoming #SLvENG Tests.
— ICC (@ICC) October 3, 2018
➡️ https://t.co/kpzyhrn8Lj pic.twitter.com/2Snf8lH1Dv
“I come back with a totally different outlook,” said Eoin Morgan, the England captain, speaking to the press on Wednesday, 3 October.
“[In 2014], we were still in transition in trying to play a style that didn’t come natural to us. We struggled to take wickets, we struggled to get Kumar Sangakkara out, and Mahela [Jayawardena] played really well.
“They were the foundation of the Sri Lanka team. So it was teams at two very different stages of their cycle,” Morgan added, insisting the scars of the series were healed.
CWC Trophy Tour: Sri Lanka – Herath, Dickwella, Malinga join the party
This time, again, the Sri Lanka series will be part of their preparation for the World Cup. The difference is that they will be among the favourites to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at home.
Having credited Andrew Strauss, the outgoing Director of Cricket, for the change in fortunes, Morgan said the team’s rise was “well thought out, well planned and, to an extent, well executed”.
“I still think we have a long way to go. It’s taken us three-and-a-half years to get to where we are now. But I think we’re getting to the most important part of what we’ve been planning towards.”
The two captains! 🏴🇱🇰🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 3, 2018
Who will come out on top on the series? pic.twitter.com/sCvGAL4V7Q
Incidentally, it’s Sri Lanka who are struggling now. Knocked out in the first round of the Asia Cup 2018, they will have Dinesh Chandimal leading the side, with Angelo Mathews left out. The team management said they hoped the five ODIs against England would mark a turnaround in fortunes.
“England is a well-equipped team for most conditions, that’s one reason they’ve been the No.1 team in ODI cricket. It will give us a good measure of where we are at the moment,” said Chandika Hathurusingha, the coach.
Chandimal stressed that the disappointment of the Asia Cup was behind them. “The players are in a good frame of mind,” he said. “If we can end this series on a winning note it will help us go into the World Cup confidently.”