Taylor's return, SL's love for allrounders, Zimbabwe's ODI form in focus

Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are about to begin a three-ODI series in Harare. Here are five things to watch for.

Having served out his three-and-a-half year ban for corruption-related offences, Taylor is back playing ODIs - the format in which he has been most prolific, having made 11 hundreds. This isn't Taylor's first international since the return - he had hit 44 and 7 against New Zealand in a Test earlier this month. But perhaps he has his eyes on that 2027 men's ODI World Cup, and at age 39, he needs to prove he can keep contributing meaningful runs. He has done well enough against Sri Lanka in the past, averaging 36.92 against them - a little higher than his career average. Zimbabwe will need his experience against an unorthodox Sri Lankan attack.

In the past, Zimbabwe tours have been seen as an opportunity for Sri Lanka to try out some younger players. But Sri Lanka are now the kind of side that does not consistently make major ODI tournaments, and they are not taking chances this time. They will be intent on their potential 2027 World Cup players getting some exposure to conditions in Zimbabwe. But more than that, they will be keen to continue winning in the format in which they have seemed most comfortable over the past 12 months. It's a chance too, to prove that their improvement in the format is not just down to familiar (big-spinning) conditions at home.

In 2025, Zimbabwe's men have lost 13 of the 17 completed matches they have played, across formats. Their one series victory, actually, was in the ODI format, when they defeated Ireland 2-1 in a home series in February. Since late April, though, they have lost 10 matches consecutively - six Tests and four T20Is. In all four of those T20Is, their batting never got going, though occasionally the bowling was effective. Against a reasonably confident Sri Lanka team, they have their work cut out.

This phase of Sri Lankan men's cricket has valued multi-skilled cricketers, and despite Wanindu Hasaranga being unavailable for this series, there are still some allrounders on show. Charith Asalanka is increasingly a reliable bowler in this format, but in the squad also are the likes of Janith Liyanage, Milan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, and Kamindu Mendis. In ODIs, Asalanka has tended to make use of this bowling depth to prevent batters from settling, and to give himself more options at the death. In the first two ODIs of their most-recent series, for example, Asalanka used seven bowlers apiece.

Following a stellar 2023 World Cup (though the team tanked around him), Dilshan Madushanka has had a quiet couple of years. He has struggled for rhythm and control across formats. Now, ODIs are the only format he really gets picked for. A rapid left-arm quick who can swing the ball into the right-hand batters early, and also has a wicked cutter, would be an asset to any limited overs team, so long as the radar is good. Thankfully for Madushanka, he has a little form going into this series, having racked up regular wickets in domestic limited-overs tournaments.