The Good, the Bad and the Ugly side of cricket begins:

Sri Lanka - England Twenty20 today

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from England

With the conclusion of the Three-match Test series for the Npower Trophy, now begins the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY side of cricket when the 'cowboy' games begin for the Natwest Trophy with Sri Lanka meeting England in the one and only Twenty20 at Bristol, on Saturday.

The GOOD because it brings in the mega bucks, BAD because it spoils technique which is what the game is all about and UGLY because the game is played in wired clothing, white ball and black sight screens and allows any bizarre stroke to be played.

It cannot be helped because today this game has become the livelihood of the players, the administrators, the umpires and the Cricket Boards of all countries.

Covering the Sri Lankan tour of Australia in 1986/87, I had the good fortune of meeting the famous Aussie leg spinning all rounder Tiger Bill O'Reiley and discussing and asking what his opinion was of one-day cricket.

He was livid at the question, his face turned red and he said: 'I'd rather turn my chair and gaze at my back wall all day, than watch the comedy', he said. That's how much he detested the game. It was anathema to him.

Conditions and wicket

To the Twenty20 and Sri Lanka and England will not make their playing elevens known until they have a look at the conditions and the wicket. Bristol is all dressed up to light the torch that will see the limited overs taking over putting aside the established game for the next few weeks.

Again winning the toss, batting first and putting up a formidable score which will put pressure on the side chasing is the most sensible thing. But today coaches and captains think otherwise and it cannot be helped.

Sri Lanka will do well to put their defeat in the Test series as a bad dream, and pad up for the one-dayers, because if they can make a clean sweep, the richer they will be and smiling their way to the bank.

Question mark

There is still a question mark on whether Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan will be fit to take the field. This game being just 20 overs will put more pressure on his fractured thumb that is slowly healing and unless fully healed he will not be able to grip the bat, spin the ball or field it. It is best that he skips this game and hopefully be fit for the 50 over games.

Sri Lankans will take the field a confident lot after their good win over Worcestershire. Playing in his penultimate game of his chequered cricketing career will be that mauler from Matara, Sanath Jayasuriya. He hit hard at his detractors who tossed him out of the 2011 World Cup with a sterling performance against Worcester where he blazed away with a dazzling 79 and captured two wickets with his tantalizing spin. He is determined to repeat.

Opening again

In the absence of Dilshan it is likely that Mahela Jayawardena will be pushed into opening again with Jayasuriya. Jayawardena surprisingly has been failing and this could be the game to find his form of old and prop the team.

Kumar Sangakkara will come back for this game and now that he is in form should be in the runs. It was heartening to note the form of big hitting all rounder Angelo Mathews.

The selectors will be pondering how to leave out Jeevan Mendis after his magnificent batting effort in making 99 against Worcester.

The return of slinger Lasith Malinga will add muscle to the attack. He had a good bowl against Worcester and the England batsmen will be uneasy facing him.

For support he will have Nuwan Kulaekera, Mathews and for spin it will either be Ajantha Mendis or Suraj Randiv.

New captain

As for England they will be led by Stuart Broad who will be making his debut as captain and would want to crown it with by leading his team to victory.

He is ideally suited for this style of game and will be looking to prove himself and his leadership qualities.

Century maker in Tests Ian Bell will once again be looking for big runs. Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Craig Kieswetter and Luke Wright are quick run getters.

The skipper will lead the bowling attack with Steven Finn, Ravi Bopara, Luke Wright, Greame Swann and Kevin Pietersen for support.

The huge crowd that is expected to fill the Gloucestershire County ground is sure to enjoy every moment of the action. It will be a thriller.