England skipper seeks revenge in Sri Lanka

Speaking to reporters at the start of the ODI series, seen as part of their preparations for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Cook said he was desperate to win the tournament starting Tuesday.

The final ODI is due to be played on December 15 in Colombo.

Cook said he wants to do to Sri Lanka what skipper Angelo Mathews did to him by winning an ODI series in England in June.

He said he also wants to use the series to demonstrate the team’s abilities and was keenly focused on winning and climbing the rankings.

“Yes, there is a World Cup at the end of it, but we are here to try and win this series. We are desperate to get that,” he said pointing to the tournament trophy.

“I think we owe you (Sri Lanka) a little bit of revenge,” he said referring to England’s home loss.

Following the Sri Lanka tour, England will travel to Sydney for a triangular one-day series with Australia and India.

That will give England at least 11 ODIs — 12 if they reach the tri-series final — before the World Cup gets underway on February 14. -AFP