After a horror show at the Oval in the first ODI, Sri Lanka's batsmen have bounced back to take over this series, leaving England's bowlers to scratch their heads time and again.
It was only a matter of time before Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene - both disappointing for much of the Test series - rediscovered top form but the emergence of no3 Dinesh Chandimal has been an added bonus for the tourists.
Sangakkara and Jayawardene might just be the best one-two batting punch in world cricket and England will not be the last team to suffer at their hands. But Alastair Cook's bowling attack must put in a better effort at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. So far, the length has been too short and the line too wayward.
But changes may be on the way. There have been calls for Stuart Broad to be replaced after a miserable series to date but, as the Twenty20 captain and a man marked out as a key cog for the future, his demotion would be a brave move from the selectors. Rotating other seam bowlers may also be an option. One thing is for sure, England need some fresh legs.
Cook's men find themselves in a must-win situation for the final two games of the series. If the hosts do not produce a more incisive, sharper effort with the ball, expect the Sri Lankan top order to make hay once again and make the fifth and final ODI all but meaningless.
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