England have introduced two new faces for their upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, with Aneurin Donald earning his maiden T20I call-up and Henry Crocombe selected in the ODI squad for the first time.
The England selectors have announced separate 16-player squads for the three-match T20I and ODI series, which will run from September 15 to September 27, 2026. Harry Brook will captain England in both formats.
The selections reward impressive domestic seasons for Donald and Crocombe, while Jamie Overton returns to both squads following injury. England will, however, be without Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran because of injuries.
Aneurin Donald Earns Maiden England T20I Call-Up
Derbyshire opener Aneurin Donald is one of the headline selections.
The 29-year-old enjoyed an outstanding 2026 Vitality Blast campaign, scoring 489 runs in 12 matches and hitting a competition-leading 37 sixes. He also represented Trent Rockets in The Hundred and helped them reach the final.
Donald has built a reputation as an aggressive top-order batter capable of changing matches quickly.
His domestic T20 record includes 18 half-centuries across 106 innings, while his best score in the format is 91. He also shares the record for the fastest fifty in the Vitality Blast, reaching the landmark from just 13 deliveries for Derbyshire against Yorkshire in 2025.
The absence of injured opener Phil Salt creates an opportunity for Donald to push for an international debut.
Henry Crocombe Gets Maiden ODI Call-Up
Sussex fast bowler Henry Crocombe has been included in England's 16-player ODI squad.
The 24-year-old's selection comes after an excellent period in domestic cricket, including hat-tricks in consecutive County Championship matches against Somerset and Essex.
Crocombe has already been around the England setup. He was added to the Test squad during the New Zealand series earlier in 2026 but did not make his international debut.
He has taken 49 wickets in 36 domestic 50-over matches, giving England another young seam-bowling option as they continue developing their ODI attack.
Why England Selected Donald and Crocombe
England men's national selector Marcus North said both players had earned their opportunities through their performances in domestic cricket.
Donald's performances for Derbyshire and Trent Rockets made him particularly difficult to ignore, while Crocombe has been on England's radar throughout the summer.
Their selections also underline England's continued attempt to expand their white-ball player pool.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching and another T20 World Cup following in 2028, performances in bilateral series can play an important role in shaping England's future squads.
Jamie Overton Returns From Injury
Another significant development is the return of Jamie Overton.
The pace-bowling all-rounder has been selected in both the ODI and T20I squads after missing England's white-ball series against India earlier in the summer because of injury.
Overton's ability to provide pace with the ball and power lower down the batting order gives England additional flexibility.
Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran Miss Out
England will be without three established white-ball players.
Phil Salt is unavailable with a quadriceps injury, while Sam Curran misses the series because of a groin problem.
Jacob Bethell is also unavailable following knee surgery. England expect Bethell to target their white-ball tour of Australia in November for his return.
Their absences create opportunities for England to test alternative combinations before a busy period of international white-ball cricket.
Brydon Carse Not Selected
Fast bowler Brydon Carse has not been selected in either squad.
The ECB said Carse was available for selection but had not been picked and needed time for a reset following recent events. He remains the subject of investigations relating to an incident in Derby; no conclusion should be inferred while those processes remain ongoing.
England T20I Squad vs Sri Lanka
| Player | Role/Status |
|---|---|
| Harry Brook | Captain |
| Jofra Archer | Bowler |
| Gus Atkinson | Bowler |
| Sonny Baker | Bowler |
| Tom Banton | Batter |
| Jos Buttler | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| James Coles | All-rounder |
| Jordan Cox | Batter/Wicketkeeper |
| Liam Dawson | All-rounder |
| Aneurin Donald | Maiden T20I call-up |
| Ben Duckett | Batter |
| Will Jacks | All-rounder |
| Saqib Mahmood | Bowler |
| Jamie Overton | All-rounder |
| Adil Rashid | Bowler |
| Josh Tongue | Bowler |
The ECB confirmed the 16-player T20I squad on September 4.
England ODI Squad vs Sri Lanka
| Player | Role/Status |
|---|---|
| Harry Brook | Captain |
| Rehan Ahmed | All-rounder |
| Jofra Archer | Bowler |
| Gus Atkinson | Bowler |
| Tom Banton | Batter |
| Sonny Baker | Bowler |
| Jos Buttler | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Jordan Cox | Batter/Wicketkeeper |
| Henry Crocombe | Maiden ODI call-up |
| Liam Dawson | All-rounder |
| Ben Duckett | Batter |
| Will Jacks | All-rounder |
| Jamie Overton | All-rounder |
| Adil Rashid | Bowler |
| Joe Root | Batter |
| Josh Tongue | Bowler |
Joe Root remains part of England's ODI plans, while Crocombe adds another pace option to the attack.
England vs Sri Lanka 2026 Schedule
The tour consists of three T20Is followed by three ODIs.
| Match | Date | Venue/City |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | September 15 | Southampton |
| 2nd T20I | September 17 | Cardiff |
| 3rd T20I | September 19 | Manchester |
| 1st ODI | September 22 | Chester-le-Street |
| 2nd ODI | September 24 | Leeds |
| 3rd ODI | September 27 | The Oval, London |
The T20I series begins at Southampton on September 15, while the ODI series starts on September 22 and concludes at The Oval on September 27.
Sri Lanka Face Their Own Injury Issues
Sri Lanka will also enter the series with changes to their T20I plans.
Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando are unavailable for the T20I series while recovering from injuries suffered during the Lanka Premier League.
Charith Asalanka will captain Sri Lanka in the T20Is, while Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka have been brought in as replacements.
Why the Sri Lanka Series Matters for England
The six matches provide England with another opportunity to assess their white-ball depth.
Donald's selection gives England another explosive top-order option, while Crocombe represents an opportunity to develop a young fast bowler in the 50-over format.
England are also looking further ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, making opportunities for emerging players increasingly important.
For Donald and Crocombe, the Sri Lanka series could mark the beginning of their senior international careers.
