Here's that Asitha Fernando delivery to Tom Banton. You can't bowl a ball much better...

Andy Zaltzman
Test Match Special statistician

Asitha Fernando was the last bowler to get Joe Root out in ODI cricket.

Since then, Root has scored 360 runs in four innings without being dismissed.

Asitha isn't quick but he has decent skills. He bowled well on the Test tour here in 2024. He tries to swing one back onto Joe Root's pads at the end of this over but Root gets his bat down on it to flick to leg.

Andy Zaltzman
Test Match Special statistician

We had 16 runs from the first 2.2 overs of the innings. Now there has only been one run in two overs.

From a distance, this pitch appears to have patches of green and brown. It's almost like a camouflage army uniform. One ball keeps low here and an under edge thuds into the slip fielder's knee.

It's Kamindu Mendis. He's in some pain.

No bowler has taken more wickets inside the powerplay in ODIs since the start of 2025 than Asitha Fernando (17 wickets at an average of 18.8).

That brings in Joe Root, who is averaging 80-odd in ODIs since the start of last year.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

That was a tremendous delivery.

Into the right-hander, Tom Banton and Asitha Fernando straightens him up.

Banton has not been using his feet as much as he should.

Coaches tell you to keep hitting top of off. That is what happens there.

Ah. Eyes are firmly on Sri Lanka today after their poor T20 showing.

We're not 15 minutes in and Dilshan Madushanka has fumbled one over the rope at fine leg.

27-year-old Tom Banton is making just his 26th career appearance in List A one-day cricket (18 for Somerset, eight for England).

By comparison Joe Root had played in 186 List A one-day matches before his 28th birthday.

Ben Duckett has had plenty of opening partners in recent ODIs - Jamie Smith, Zak Crawley, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and even Rehan Ahmed.

There's a bit of the Crawley-Duckett little and large partnership with Banton and Duckett. Banton towers over the left-hander as he offers some advice during Dilshan Madushanka's wayward first over.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

Dilshan Madushanka is getting it wrong.

That form is the weight what Sri Lanka carry.

It is about starting quick, and feeling you're ahead of this English team and the feeling that you can knock them over.

Aatif Nawaz
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It is overpitching slightly, and he pounced on that length so quickly, Tom Banton.

Tom Banton has just pinged one for four so well the catering staff in the media centre are applauding...

Ben Duckett is another who needs some runs - more for his own confidence than anything after a lean run. He gets a nice full toss early to get under way.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

The weather today, the Sri Lankans will enjoy it.

I think that's a factor which probably made Sri Lanka change the team late when they realised with the sun beating down like that, the moisture is going to disappear.

All set? One of those who needs to refind the rhythm of ODI batting in Tom Banton, especially when it comes to batting at the top of the order.

He has only played one List A match since 2020 but is opening here in place of the injured Jacob Bethell.

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

I know Harry Brook has simplified it a lot by saying he wants to approach it like a longer T20 game. You have to find that rhythm of 50-over cricket, and it sometimes takes a lot of time when you have only played 20-over cricket.