It’s been a little under two weeks since England were truly humbled on yet another dismal away Ashes series, but the Three Lions are back to work with three ODIs against Sri Lanka. The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is just 18 months away, and it’s a crucial period for Brendan McCullum as he looks to fine-tune his squad ahead of a crucial period for a white-ball division that’s been on the slip.
Despite off-field issues surrounding captain Harry Brook’s conduct in Australia and whether spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed would be granted visas for the tour to India, England come into the game with a relatively settled squad. Bookies have them as favourites to win the first test at 8/11, which is interesting given their poor record against spin on the subcontinent.
Sri Lanka have been relatively drama-free in their build-up, with Charith Asalanka set to continue his role as ODI captain, for now at least. bet365 have them priced at 11/10 in this first ODI, which shows there’s not a lot between the sides, making for a fascinating series ahead.
Sri Lanka vs England First ODI Bet Builder Tips
After comparing each of our Sri Lanka vs England picks for Wednesday’s game through dozens of the best betting sites, bet365 have come out on top, returning £122.50 for every £10 wagered.
| Market | Bet | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| To Win the Match | Sri Lanka | 11/10 |
| Batter Match Runs | Joe Root Over 30.5 | 15/4 |
| A Hundred to Be Scored | No | 11/10 |
| Total Odds | 11.25/1 (Boosted with bet365) |
*Odds correct at 10:30 GMT on 21/01/2026. Odds subject to change.
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Bet 1: Sri Lanka to Win
Given the odds, it’s clear that there’s not a lot to separate the two teams in the first ODI. For England, their slip down the world rankings to eighth will be cause for concern, especially with the upcoming World Cup in 2027, when teams will be allocated groups based on those rankings.
It is, however, a byproduct of their performances, which haven’t been great.
Sri Lanka will be licking their lips at the prospect of playing at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Batting first is a must, so the toss is vital here, as the track will slow up and the spinners come more into the game.
Which brings us nicely into the Sri Lankan bowling attack, specifically their three spinners Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage. These are the game changers here, with England historically struggling against spin, it’s going to be mightily difficult to get a decent score on the board.
Keep an eye on that toss, but Sri Lanka to spin England into a frenzy looks a big price at 11/10 with the best cricket betting sites.
Bet 2: Joe Root to Score Over 30.5 Runs
England might struggle on the slow-turning track in Colombo, but we’re still backing Joe Root to once again step up. He’s currently 5/6 to score 30.5 runs or more, which, on the face of things, looks more than generous.
His record in Sri Lanka is exceptional, averaging 64.1 across 12 ODIs. That average is only bettered when playing in Pakistan (75.0), and there are many similarities in how the wickets play in both, confirming his quality on tracks where most struggle.
Bet 3: No Hundred to be Scored
R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium has gone from a batting paradise to a bit of a minefield over the last decade. In 2018, the average first-innings score was around 330, but since then it’s progressively decreased, hitting an all-time low of 220 in 2024.
This isn’t by chance, either. The SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) has prepped based on the team's strength, which, of course, is spin bowling. Tracks have become lower, slower and infinitely harder to bat on as a result.
The ground has seen only 13 hundreds in the last 33 ODIs, with just two in 2024 and 2025 combined. We’re backing no hundred to be scored with at a juicy looking 11/10.
