As England is currently touring in Sri Lanka despite knowing the rainy season, the cricket fans have got angry due to the continuing wash-out matches. Later, England cricket has officially clarified the reason to tour in Sri Lanka at this time.
England has started Sri Lanka tour with the limited-overs formats. The first two ODIs of the five-match ODI series observed heavy rain interruptions and the scenario is quite similar in the ongoing third ODI on today.
In the first ODI at Dambulla, the first batting team England scored 92/2 before rain stopped the game. There was no further play as the game ended with no result.
In the second ODI at Dambulla, England managed to score 278/9 in 50 overs while Sri Lanka was fighting on 140/5 (29 overs) after their initial collapse but rain again stopped the game prematurely. While it wasn’t restarted, England won by 31 runs in DLS method.
The picture is poorer in the ongoing third ODI at Kandy where the game hasn’t started yet due to the rain interruption. Even, the toss hasn’t taken yet in this third ODI.
Earlier, prior to the ODI series, England had scheduled to play two 50-over warm-up matches against Sri Lanka Board XI. While the first game was stopped at the end due to bad light as England won by 43 runs in the DLS method, the second game had no toss due to rain.
Observing this continuous rain-affected series, the England cricket fans are losing their patience and they are questioning the logic of this series while it is proper rainy-season in Sri Lanka.
On Wednesday, England Cricket tweeted, “In respect of touring Sri Lanka at this time of year: The Future Tours Programme is congested involving 13 Boards whose schedules all interconnect, so there are unfortunately a number of tours that have to take place outside prime match-staging periods.”
In respect of touring Sri Lanka at this time of year:
The Future Tours Programme is congested involving 13 Boards whose schedules all interconnect, so there are unfortunately a number of tours that have to take place outside prime match-staging periods.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 17, 2018
It further added, “After hosting England, Sri Lanka spend the rest of the 18-19 season touring New Zealand, Australia & South Africa. They play their first match in New Zealand on Dec 8, which left very little wriggle room given our final Test in Sri Lanka is finishes on Nov 29.”
After hosting England, Sri Lanka spend the rest of the 18-19 season touring New Zealand, Australia & South Africa.
They play their first match in New Zealand on Dec 8, which left very little wriggle room given our final Test in Sri Lanka is finishes on Nov 29.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 17, 2018
