Ranking All 28 Players to Play in the 2014 England vs. Sri Lanka ODI Series
England’s One-Day International series against Sri Lanka has reached its end, with the tour now set to move into the Test series after the tourists’ 3-2 victory.
As the players put the coloured kits to one side and dig out their whites, let’s first take a look back at the topsy-turvy ODI series between the two countries.
Some players impressed, while others unfortunately did not manage to make a mark.
With that in mind, read on for a power ranking of all 28 players to be involved.
28. Michael Carberry
1 of 28
1 match
6 runs; 6.00 batting average; 6 highest score
Brought in to replace the injured Alastair Cook, opener Michael Carberry failed to set a good platform for his team at Chester-le-Street.
After an inconsistent start to the season, his Test place must surely be in doubt.
27. Rangana Herath
2 of 28
1 matches
0 runs; 0* highest score
0 wickets
It was just the one match for Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who bowled 3.1 wicketless and expensive overs.
He will hope for a great deal of improvement when the Test series starts.
26. Thisara Perera
3 of 28
1 matches
2 runs; 2 batting average; 2 highest score
0 wickets
A solitary appearance in this series came for Thisara Perera, who was also expensive with the ball in just three overs.
He may not have been included in the Tests, but at the age of 25, he still has time on his side.
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25. Suranga Lakmal
4 of 28
1 match
4 runs; no batting average; 4* highest score
0 wickets
Seamer Suranga Lakmal could manage just one match before he was forced out of the series with a hamstring tear.
He will be bitterly disappointed to have to return home for treatment.
24. Dhammika Prasad
5 of 28
1 match
7 runs; no batting average; 7* highest score
1 wicket; 36.00 bowling average; 1-36 BBI
It was just one appearance for Dhammika Prasad, and while it was a decent one, he would have wanted more.
His only wicket was a good one, however, as it removed the dangerous Eoin Morgan.
23. Dinesh Chandimal
6 of 28
3 matches
28 runs; 9.33 batting average; 14 highest score
Three appearances for batsman Dinesh Chandimal, but he could make little impact in any of them.
He is highly rated, however, and is another youngster with plenty of time to make more of an impression.
22. Kusal Perera
7 of 28
2 matches
38 runs; 19.00 batting average; 19 highest score
Kusal Perera was limited to just two appearances on this tour and made 19 on both occasions.
He made aggressive starts, but he will be disappointed not to have kicked on for bigger scores.
21. Ashan Priyanjan
8 of 28
4 matches
54 runs; 18.00 batting average; 43 highest score
1 wicket; 42.00 bowling average; 1-18 BBI
All-rounder Ashan Priyanjan promised a little in this series, but he failed to deliver convincingly.
His 43 at Durham was a definite bright spot, however.
20. Eoin Morgan
9 of 28
5 matches
72 runs; 18.00 batting average; 40 highest score
England’s lynchpin in the middle order, Eoin Morgan had a very moderate series by his high standards.
All too often he would play himself in and look assured, but he would then get out cheaply.
19. Ravi Bopara
10 of 28
5 matches
78 runs; 19.50 batting average; 51 highest score
1 wicket; 128.00 bowling average; 1-25 BBI
Were Ravi Bopara not to have hit 51 at Lord’s, he would be much lower down this list after a poor series with bat and ball.
He continues to frustrate at international level.
18. Ajantha Mendis
11 of 28
2 matches
4 runs; no batting average; 4* highest score
4 wickets; 27.50 bowling average; 2-50 BBI
Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis took advantage of England’s uncertainty to take a few wickets in limited opportunities.
He certainly would have wanted more chances, but he has shown he has plenty to offer on pitches that are not immediately spin-friendly.
17. Joe Root
12 of 28
5 matches
98 runs; 24.50 batting average; 45 highest score
0 wickets
Perhaps this summer, England will finally work out what Joe Root’s role within the team should be.
Here, he batted at No. 4 and bowled some spin but had only limited success.
16. Nuwan Kulasekara
13 of 28
5 matches
5 runs; 1.25 batting average; 5 highest score
5 wickets; 38.40 bowling average; 3-15 BBI
Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara looked in decent touch with the ball throughout this series.
He surely would have wanted more wickets, but he will be encouraged a little by his start here.
15. Alastair Cook
14 of 28
4 matches
98 runs; 32.66 batting average; 56 highest score
England captain Alastair Cook was another who would make a start and then get out.
His 56 at Edgbaston was a welcome return to some form, but he needs things to improve dramatically as he steers his country into the Test series.
14. Lahiru Thirimanne
15 of 28
5 matches
93 runs; 23.25 batting average; 60* highest score
Present when the winning runs were hit in the final game, Lahiru Thirimanne had an inconsistent series.
His unbeaten 60 in Birmingham was a good display of his talents, although he probably would have wanted that to be a more regular occurrence.
13. Mahela Jayawardene
16 of 28
5 matches
109 runs; 21.80 batting average; 53 highest score
With retirement potentially in his near future, Mahela Jayawardene had a decent, if unspectacular, series with the bat.
It is a mark of his class that his wicket remains one of the opposition’s most prized.
12. Gary Ballance
17 of 28
5 matches
121 runs; 30.25 batting average; 64 highest score
Showing promise but failing to deliver regularly in England’s troublesome No. 3 spot was Gary Ballance.
It is still early in his international career, but certainly the Yorkshire player would have wanted to have made more of an impact than just one half-century.
11. Lasith Malinga
18 of 28
5 matches
12 runs; 6.00 batting average; 10 highest score
7 wickets; 29.00 bowling average; 3-50 BBI
Still Sri Lanka’s most effective pace bowler, Lasith Malinga remains a handful.
He will be disappointed at a high economy rate of 5.94 runs per over, but he showed here that he still has plenty to offer.
10. Angelo Mathews
19 of 28
5 matches
131 runs; 32.75 batting average; 42* highest score
4 wickets; 21.75 bowling average;1-9 BBI
Some runs, some wickets and a 3-2 series win add up to a fairly good five games for Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews.
There is always room for improvement, but on his first tour abroad as captain, things have started off pretty well for him.
9. Ian Bell
20 of 28
5 matches
147 runs; 36.75 batting average; 50 highest score
Opening alongside his captain came Ian Bell, who remains talented but could not quite set a solid enough platform.
His class is undoubted—whether he is capable of playing an explosive innings at the top of the order remains to be seen.
8. James Anderson
21 of 28
5 matches
12 runs; 6.00 batting average; 7 highest score
8 wickets; 20.37 bowling average; 2-10 BBI
England’s leading seamer, James Anderson, like many of his teammates, was a little up-and-down during the series.
He remains crucial to his country’s attack, but he will be disappointed not to have picked up more wickets.
7. Harry Gurney
22 of 28
5 matches
4 runs; no batting average; 4* highest score
9 wickets; 22.55 bowling average; 4-55 BBI
Still a little raw, Harry Gurney looked the part as he caused a number of problems.
His left-arm seam definitely offered something different, and he took advantage of some swinging conditions to make a good impact.
6. James Tredwell
23 of 28
5 matches
5 runs; 2.50 batting average; 4 highest score
9 wickets; 18.44 bowling average; 3-38 BBI
He may not be the most flashy spinner in the world, but James Tredwell certainly is consistent for England.
Nine wickets here was a good return, and he may well find himself back in the Test reckoning once again.
5. Sachithra Senanayake
24 of 28
5 matches
25 runs; 8.33 batting average; 12 highest score
9 wickets; 15.11 bowling average; 4-13 BBI
With allegations of an illegal bowling action around him, Sachithra Senanayake shook those off to finish as Sri Lanka’s leading bowler.
At times, England looked rather clueless on how to deal with him.
4. Jos Buttler
25 of 28
5 matches
172 runs; 57.33 batting average; 121 highest score
England’s most explosive batsman in this series, Jos Buttler may well have forced his way into the Test team.
His 121 at Lord’s was one of the great ODI innings, and while his glovework is still patchy at times, he is one of the most exciting cricketers in England right now.
3. Kumar Sangakkara
26 of 28
5 matches
175 runs; 35.00 batting average; 112 highest score
Another of Sri Lanka’s elder statesmen, Kumar Sangakkara made his side’s only century and once again was a crucial batsman.
He continues to flourish in internationals, and perhaps this is the year he improves his relatively poor record in England.
2. Chris Jordan
27 of 28
5 matches
74 runs; 24.66 batting average; 38* highest score
12 wickets; 19.33 bowling average; 5-29 BBI
England’s all-action bowler Chris Jordan continues to amaze with bat, ball and in the field and must surely be in the frame for a Test debut.
He oozes confidence right now in everything he does and will feel even better after another superb series for his country.
1. Tillakaratne Dilshan
28 of 28
5 matches
222 runs; 44.40 batting average; 88 highest score
0 wickets
Leading the way comes Tillakaratne Dilshan, who once again showed he is a top-class batsman.
His runs were aggressive and frequent, and while he did not reach a century, he was consistent enough to top the run charts across both teams and our power-ranking list.
All stats courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo.
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