England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook has criticised the playing surface used for the second one-day international against Sri Lanka in Colombo, describing it as “probably the worst” he has ever played on. Despite the challenging conditions, England managed to secure a five-wicket victory, chasing down Sri Lanka’s total of 220 runs.
The match saw England’s bowlers deliver an unprecedented 40.3 overs of spin, the most they have ever sent down in a single ODI. This was a significant increase from the 3.15 degrees of spin recorded in the first ODI, which rose to 3.62 in this encounter – a 15% jump. England utilised six spinners in total for the first time in the format.
Joe Root’s masterful innings of 75 runs was crucial in guiding England to victory on the difficult surface. Brook praised Root’s ability to “get off strike and put the bad ball away when they slightly miss”, calling him a “phenomenal player to have in our side.”
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Brook did not hold back in his assessment of the pitch, stating: “The pitch is probably the worst pitch I’ve ever played on. You had to go out there and adapt as quickly as possible and try to get off strike and get the other batter on strike.”
Despite the challenging conditions, Brook was pleased with his team’s performance, saying: “It’s nice to get a win away from home on a tough surface – we are happy to get the victory.” He also commended his bowlers, who he said “did an amazing job” in ending England’s run of 11 ODI matches without a win.
The victory allowed England to level the series against Sri Lanka, setting up an intriguing decider in the final match. The team’s ability to adapt to the demanding pitch conditions will be crucial in determining the outcome of the series.
