Alex Hales returns for England in third ODI with Sri Lanka

By Joe Fish, Reporter

Published: December 3 2014 | 09:16

Last updated: December 4 2014 | 08:43

Alex Hales is recalled by England in one of three changes for the third ODI with Sri Lanka, with Ben Stokes and Chris Jordan also back in the side in Hambantota.

Alex Hales has been recalled by England in one of three changes to the side for the third one-day international with Sri Lanka in Hambantota.

Ben Stokes and Chris Jordan also return as England experiment following successive defeats, with Ian Bell, Harry Gurney and James Tredwell dropping out.

Tredwell's omission leaves all-rounder Moeen Ali as Alastair Cook's most senior spinner. Hales is expected to come in at three, where he has not batted for Nottinghamshire in over four years.

Sri Lanka make one change, with prolific batsman Mahela Jayawardene being rested and 32-year-old Thilina Kandamby making his first ODI appeared since 2011 in the middle order.

England: Ali, Cook (c), Hales, Root, Morgan, Buttler (wk), Bopara, Stokes, Woakes, Jordan, Finn

Sri Lanka: Dilshan, K. Perera, Sangakkara (wk), Kandamby, Mathews (c), Thirimanne, J. Mendis, T. Perera, Prasad, Herath, A. Mendis