Challenge excites Moores

Peter Moores © Getty Images

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Peter Moores has challenged England to continue their development as a one-day side by overcoming some of the harshest conditions in cricket to challenge Sri Lanka in their five-match series.

England’s victory over India in the NatWest Series a fortnight ago has encouraged coach Moores that his side are progressing in the right direction even if their ICC World Twenty20 campaign - with a different squad - ended in disappointment.

But the next three weeks will be their toughest challenge of all when the one-day series starts in Dambulla on Monday in sub-tropical conditions against a Sri Lanka side who only reached the World Cup final five months ago.

History would suggest England face a major task just to win a match - they have only won one of eight completed matches against Sri Lanka on their home soil and that was back in 1982 - but Moores believes his squad are excited by the challenge.

“In some ways the conditions are part of the fun of it because the lads know it’s a real challenge,” said Moores. “It’s a place to come and play which is historically known as difficult, partly because Sri Lanka are a very good team.

“The lads are very excited about the prospect, but to play here and do well we’re going to have to play far ahead of our ranking.

“Sri Lanka are a really good team, but the exciting part is that if we can come here and perform well and win because not many teams come here and do well.”