England will provide a clue to their one-day strategy for their forthcoming seven-match series in Sri Lanka when they omit Alex Hales from their top three in Friday's warm-up game against Sri Lanka A in Colombo. The 25-year-old Nottinghamshire opener, who is currently third in the ICC's Twenty20 world rankings, has been touted by many as a potential match-winner at next year's 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. But England are set instead to go in to their tour opener with a top three of captain Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali and Ian Bell – leaving them open once more to the accusation that their approach to one-day cricket is simply too conservative to challenge the world's best sides.
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Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali and Ian Bell will make up England's top three
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Alex Hales is ranked third in the ICC's Twenty20 world rankings
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Coach Peter Moores once again open to accusations that England's approach is too conservative to challenge world's best
Alex Hales
Alex Hales
@placeholder, pictured during a nets session in Colombo, will not be part of England's top three against Sri Lanka
Alex Hales
Alex Hales
Even so, for those looking for signs that England will embrace an aggression-first approach as they seek to avoid a sixth successive World Cup flop, the news that @placeholder is not being given a licence to thrill at the top of the order will feel dispiriting.