This is a big surprise. The previous ODI series played in Sri Lanka England won it by 3-2. So it's not an impossible task.
Problem is this is a one-off not a five match
series. Is an interesting point though
07/08 Sri Lanka 2-3 England (ODI series)
1 :
Sri Lanka won by 119 runs. Maharoof took 4/31, Cook top scored for England with 47 and England were never close to chasing 270 to win. Only 27no from Bopara and 24 from Swann at 7 and 8 respectively got England to 150.
2 :
England won by 65 runs. 82 from Shah took England to 234. Four England bowlers took two wickets each, two late run outs finished Sri Lanka off with 44no from Mubarak the Sri Lankan top score - Sri Lanka were 90/6, so added 79 for the last four wickets.
3 :
England won by 2 wkts. Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 164 which nearly proved enough, 70 from Dilshan being 55 more than the next highest score with Swann taking 4/34 and Sidebottom 3/19. England were 47/4 in reply, than 107/7 but 25 from Swann and 20no from Broad got them over the line.
4 :
England won by five wkts. Three wickets each from Anderson and Sidebottom saw Sri Lanka make just 211/9 with Sangakkara 69 and Silva 67 scoring most of the runs in a partnership of 126 for the 4th wicket. Both fell within 12 runs of each other and the total was not enough. England made light work of the target, Cook making 80 and Pietersen 63no.
5 :
Sri Lanka won by 107 runs. Sri Lanka made 211 for the 2nd match in a row, this time all out. Silva made 73 while Broad was the pick of the bowlers with 3/36. England were never at the races, 29 for the 2nd wicket the pick of the partnerships, and Cook and Pietersen joint top scorers with 28. Fernando ripped through England with 6/27 as they made just 104 with a best position of 72/3, the last seven wickets going down for 32 runs.
So while England won 3-2, they were thrashed by 100+ runs in both defeats and only narrowly squeaked home in what proved the deciding 3rd ODI (deciding in that the rest were not that close rather than an actual decider per se)
Only four of the humiliated players from that last ODI in Sri Lanka could play in this one - Bell, Collingwood, Bopara and Anderson. Mustard was the pinch-hitter then, 89 runs @ 17.80 supporting my point about keepers opening simply not working for England and wasting a capable batsman on a theory. Broad took 11 wickets, second only to Sidebottom with 12 for England. Swann took just seven wickets, England not going with much spin. Cook was top of the averages with 31.00, neither Bell nor Collingwood registered 100 runs in the series.
Oh and Anderson took four wickets @ 48.25, I seriously hope England don't recall him but I fear they might