Alastair Cook's search for a significant ODI score goes on but his side showed impressive composure in completing a five-wicket win in the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka

They may not scream World Cup winner at you but the performance of England's two young quicks are encouraging for England

Desperately seeking the ideal World Cup combination, England are likely to continue their player rotation as the ODI series shifts to Pallekele

Ben Stokes is slipping alarmingly from England's greatest asset to a liability they are struggling to carry

England's decision to field Ben Stokes instead of James Tredwell may have contributed to them going 3-1 down in the series but they have accepted that there will be some collateral damage

James Taylor's chance has been a long time coming, but he took it in style in Colombo to press his claims for a place in England's World Cup squad

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from Colombo

The prospects for England at the forthcoming World Cup have not been much of a conversation starter in recent times but they do have a few players who are starting to get people talking

England's one-day captaincy has often seemed a burden for Alastair Cook. Eoin Morgan, bereft of form, will seek to use it as a catalyst for change

Peter Moores has backed Eoin Morgan to arrest his slump in form, describing him as a "top-flight one-day player" and suggesting that stepping up to take temporary charge of the team could help provide the spark he needs.

Joe Root and Jos Buttler, 23 and 24 respectively, are cartoon superheroes in a time when England are desperate to sketch out a more exciting template for their limited-overs game

In Hambantota, they say funny things can happen. And England need something unexpected to happen to their ODI cricket, some jungle juju to reinvigorate a stumbling side

England have discovered that ODI cricket is becoming a jungle where only the sharpest, most ruthless survive, so their venture into Sri Lanka's deep south for the third match of the series at Hambantota seems symbolic

Ravi Bopara agreed there hasn't much gone right with England in Sri Lanka, but he and the team are concentrating on building a positive environment and lent support to embattled captain Alastair Cook

For the second time this year, Kevin Pietersen suggested Alastair Cook should quit the England captaincy. This time he tweeted his dissatisfaction with England's one-day form, though Cook is just as disinclined to listen

Given the traumatic events of this week a one-day defeat is really not important at all so this match has to be analysed in a different light but will have to admit how poorly they performed

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the second ODI in Colombo

Alastair Cook, England's captain, said that the players from both sides wanted the game to go ahead as a tribute to Phillip Hughes

The mischievous thought that Moeen Ali and Alex Hales could feature in England's best ODI eleven will continue to grow as long as Alastair Cook's form remains in a muddy rut

In monsoon season, England look to get on course for the World Cup