There is no doubt in my mind that the English team is out of form and is playing below it’s normal strength. They will be up against a SriLankan team which is a favorite for lifting the trophy, the Sri Lankan team is very balanced and has all kinds of weapons their batting has variety and depth their pace bowling is highly skillful and can perform on all kinds of surfaces.
If one analyzes the matchup between the two teams almost everything on paper goes in favor of SriLanka and probably they will win against England but there is only one factor which might help England and that is the venue. The conditions at Wanderers will suit the English team more than the Sri Lankan team, The English fast bowlers have vast experience in exploiting such conditions and their batsmen also have the basic technique to play on such surfaces.
If the match between Pakistan and West Indies was an indication than probably M & M should not pose much danger to England as the pitch did not provided any help to the spinners but this is the first time English players will be facing Mendis in an International match and no body knows how they will deal with him.
The toss will play an important role, the side batting second will have a better chance, it will be low scoring match. Srilanka has won only one match out of the last five they played on this venue, their confidence must be very high after their comfortable victory against the hosts South Africa.
But I am sensing that if England has a chance it is on this venue if their bowlers expoited the conditions and their batsmen showed some determination against M&M they will prevail.
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