Sri Lanka vs England: Joe Root helps tourists level ODI series

Much of the reaction from England during the Ashes came from off-field briefings, where they attempted to massage the narrative of a winter tour of discontent.

But on an uneven pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium, the focus on this occasion was the degrees of spin the ball offered.

In ODIs since the start of 2024, this stadium has seen an average return of 2.93 degrees. In the 23 bowling innings bowled here in this time period, England’s return rate today was the fourth highest in the field.

England managed a return of 3.15 in the first ODI, but here it was 3.62 – an increase of 15% – which Brook, to his credit, astutely realized was the best way to take wickets.

There were 40.3 overs bowled by the spinners, the most by any England bowling attack in an ODI. The previous record was 36 overs in a 50-over match against Pakistan in Sharjah in March 1985.

This was also the first time England used six different spinners in an ODI.

Rashid’s leg-breaks were the most masterful as he claimed the top-order wickets of Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka and skipper Charith Asalanka at an economy of 3.40.

But he was well supported by a twirler phalanx comprising offices from Jacks and Root, tights from Ahmed and left-arm orthodox from Jacob Bethell.

Five different spinners took a wicket – the joint most in an ODI innings by a team and the first from England.

The seven wickets fallen on spin was the second most by England’s attack in an ODI, bettered by only eight against the West Indies at North Sound in 2014.