Sunday’s match at the R Premadasa Stadium is a day game and this time there is no provision for a reserve day. England, by their own reckoning, made some “bold” decisions before the last match in Hambantota, which they won by five wickets after a stop-start but ultimately thrilling run-chase, galvanized by the youngsters in the squad. More tricky decisions await them.

One of them has already been made. Eoin Morgan, despite a disturbing run of failures, will play and he will captain the side in Cook’s absence. He has an excellent record with the bat – averaging more than 70 in seven matches – when leading England in this format. Leading may prove a welcome distraction.

“I’ve always enjoyed captaining the side,” said Morgan. “Having not bowled since I was 17 it gives you another string to your bow. The other side is that it takes a bit of attention away from your batting, so maybe it will contribute to me getting some runs.”

Morgan will not be a Cook clone as captain. “I’ve always done it my way and things won’t change. I play it as I see it. So if my way is different then that’s just the way it is.”

He says that he is not fretting about his poor form. “I don’t think I can simply because I have to play an aggressive type of game. It’s the way I’ve played since I was a kid and it works for me. So there’s no use in me going into my shell or not playing any more shots. I’m a gambler and I’m due. I’ve got to stay true to myself and I do.”

However, he may be one of life’s more pragmatic gamblers because he also hedged a little. “I need as much time at the crease as possible,” he said. “If I chew up balls, then so be it.”

At least there are signs that other batsmen are finding their form. Moeen Ali, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler and Joe Root have played significant innings and one or two others are flickering. Even so, it is not straightforward for the selectors this weekend. They have to balance the need to explore all the options with the World Cup around the corner alongside the desire to win the next game.

In terms of personnel this boils down to what they are going to do with James Taylor and Ben Stokes. Taylor is the only player in the squad not to play in the three ODIs so far; nor did he play in the practice match. If this was a World Cup quarter-final it is highly unlikely that he would be selected given his lack of cricket. But here the “bold” decision would be to give him a chance despite his lack of decent preparation.

The alternative batting replacement would be Ian Bell. He could open with Moeen, though there would then be a hue and cry that the dream team of Moeen and Alex Hales had been spurned. There would be some justification to that hue and cry since here is a golden opportunity to try this pair together. Bell, if selected, could remain at No3.

Since James Tredwell is likely to play here, where the surface is usually more accommodating for spinners, it becomes difficult to keep Stokes in the side. It has been a disappointing fortnight for Stokes, especially when he has had the ball in his hand. Like Taylor he would not be a reassuring option if England were playing a World Cup quarter-final. Yet Stokes’s potential is obvious, so there remains an argument to keep playing him on the basis that he will probably come good in the end. It’s a fair thesis but unlikely to be put into practice on Sunday.

(theguardian)