England's vs Sri Lanka: Tourists look for ODI success in preparation for Cricket World Cup

The World Cup is now just 8 months away and England's preperation steps up a gear as they begin their tour of Sri Lanka this Wednesday. 

Whilst conditions in Sri Lanka will be very much different to the familiar conditions that Eoin Morgan's men will be faced with in the World Cup, the tour can be seen as a real indicator to just how far England's ODI side has come since the last World Cup. 

Skip back to this time four years ago and England were hammered 6-1 by Sri Lanka before a dismal showing in the World Cup months later. 

• Article continues below...
• More stories you may like...
• Wimbledon 2019: Three rising women to watch out for
• 'Major sports events have a unique power to inspire people': meet Lindsay Impett, event director of the Netball World Cup 2019
• Female footballers don't deserve to be paid as much as men

Foward in time now and England these days are known to be one of, if not the best, ODI side in the world. Whilst reservations remain about his work with the test side, Trevor Bayliss has completley revamped England's fortunes in the white ball game and will be hoping that despite conditions England traditonally struggle on, they can take advantage of what is a rather poor Sri Lanka side.

Bayliss' turnaround of the side has been rather special. Following a dismal showing in the last World Cup England's one day side now is a complete contrast to the test side. Before Bayliss these sides were identical. 

Such is Bayliss's development of the England side, in 16 series' overseen by him and captain Eoin Morgan, England have only lost two, away in South Africa and India. Oversing big wins, such as the victory over Australia at the beginning of this year, which was followed by a win in New Zealand and two series wins in the sub continent against Bangladesh and Pakistan. 

England don't have lots of ODI cricket left until the World Cup gets away and for them this serious will be very much about trying to find out more about the side they may field come next June. Whilst conditions will mean more chance for spinners such as Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson, there will also be a chance for newcomers such as Olly Stone to try and cement a place in the side.

Whilst England's record in the sub continent isn't the greatest, it is difficult to see anything but them emerging victorious from this. The Sri Lanka squad from 2014 featured the likes of Sangakara, Jayawardene and Dilshan who could bat all day. Following their retirmenets, Sri Lanka are no longer the force of old, having lost six of their last seven series'.

Image rights - Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eoin_Morgan_of_England.jpg