Spinners to the fore as England and Sri Lanka prepare to do battle

It's been damp in Dambulla since England's arrival in Sri Lanka. But with the first ODI of their five-match series looming on Wednesday, their credentials as a white-ball force are about to face a tricky test, against a team who have been in the doldrums of late, but who still know how to perform in their own conditions.

And with just a solitary (and rain-shortened) match in Colombo with which to get their preparations fine-tuned, England risk going into the series undercooked. Not least Mark Wood, who has been experimenting with a new longer run-up to ease the pressure on his dicky left ankle.

Wood is 15/4 to be England's leading wicket-taker in the series, but after conceding that the roles will be reversed for the seamers and spinners on this trip, he is some way behind the fore-most of those spinning options, Adil Rashid (3/1).

For Sri Lanka, their most formidable weapon could be Akila Dananjaya, the latest in their long line of mystery spinners, who is 11/4 to top the charts. But look who's lurking at 3/1. The old stager Lasith Malinga looked to be a spent force in recent seasons. But with 4 for 23 on his comeback against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup last month, including two in his first over, he is once again ready to sling his way onto the front line.