England are seven months away from the start of their World Cup campaign and have never been in a better position to win the tournament or had so many players vying for places.

It is 43 years since the first Prudential World Cup and in that time England have been beaten finalists three times. They have not made an impression on the tournament since 1992, when they lost to Pakistan in the final, and were an embarrassment last time around in Australia.

But now Eoin Morgan’s team are No 1 in the world and there is a scramble for the last remaining places in the 15-man squad with games running out fast for those who have not booked a place in the tournament.

England have 14 ODIs before the start of the World Cup on May 30, the next is in Kandy on Wednesday (depending on the weather), but only eight before they have to name their squad in April.

The emergence of Olly Stone with a fast and hostile spell of new ball bowling in the Duckworth-Lewis 31 run win in the second ODI in Dambulla on Saturday, has given Morgan another bowling option to ponder.