England have again sent Rehan Ahmed to open the batting in the third and deciding one-day international (ODI) against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa International Stadium, Colombo, today, continuing an approach that has drawn attention during the series. England won the toss and chose to bat first.
How does Rehan Ahmed enter the opening line?
Ahmed, 21, is normally a lower-order batter and frontline leg-spinner. His promotion to the top of the order for a second consecutive match reflects England’s effort to make use of the hard new ball before conditions become more difficult.
With Zak Crawley sidelined because of a knee injury, the team management did not select a like-for-like replacement. Instead, they have asked Ahmed to play a brief attacking role in the early overs, aiming to disrupt Sri Lanka’s bowling plans and take advantage of the Powerplay. England’s coaches believe this approach allows their established batters to come in later, when the ball is softer and the surface slower.
Ahmed scored 13 in his first outing as an opener earlier in the series. While that contribution was limited, England points to his recent domestic form as evidence that he can handle the responsibility. He has batted higher up the order for Leicestershire and shown the ability to play both pace and spin. The move also preserves England’s middle order, keeping Joe Root and captain Harry Brook away from the early movement that can still be present in Colombo.
Series finely balanced
The series has been closely contested. Sri Lanka won the first match by 19 runs, before Joe Root’s 75 helped England level the series in the second game. Sri Lanka was strengthened by the return of Wanindu Hasaranga, who missed the first two games. With three T20 internationals to follow, the outcome of these matches may decide which team will win this time.
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