Alastair Cook faces his first major test as captain after Sri Lanka crushed England for the second time in succession on Sunday by winning the third ODI by six wickets, to leave the hosts trailing 2-1 in the series. As a result the visitors are now the 1/3 favourites to win the series, while England are available at 9/4. Cook will now have to inspire his troops who will no doubt still be reeling from their defeat as a win on Wednesday at Trent Bridge is now a must if England are to recover and win the series.

Captain Cook led by example in Sundays match at Lords with a solid 119 runs off 143 balls. It’s just a shame that his team didn’t follow his lead. The match did much to highlight England’s frailties with the bat and their lack of impact players who can come on and win matches with a burst of rapid runs. Craig Kieswetter, Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan were out for a dismal 2, 3 and 4 respectively, and if it wasn’t for the 41 runs by Kevin Pietersen then England would have been utterly humiliated.

If England are to have any hope of reigniting their series then it is crucial that their batsman start performing at the same time. It is no use if one batsman has a successday day at the crease if all the others are struggling to reach double figures. Victor Chandler have Cook at 7/2 to finish the fourth series as England’s Top Batsman, while Trott and Pietersen are both available at 4/1, with Kieswetter at 5/1 and Morgan at 6/1. Similarly England’s bowlers must up the ante as they have been made to look distinctively average by Sri Lanka’s batsman in the last two ODI.

Despite their recent back-to-back defeats England are still the favourites to come away with a win on Wednesday, with short odds of 8/11 with Victor Chandler, with Sri Lanka are available at evens.

England v Sir Lanka Fourth ODI Winner

Top England Batsman Fourth ODI

Series Winner

Series Correct Score

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