England playing XI for 1st ODI Vs Sri Lanka revealed: Forgotten batter returns after 776 days

England reveal playing XI Vs Sri Lanka [Source: AFP Photo]

With nearly 24 hours left for the first ODI between Sri Lanka and England, the visitors, England, have already revealed their playing XI for the series opener at the iconic R Premadasa Stadium. Surprisingly, the Three Lions have fielded a batting-heavy side, lacking quality in the bowling attack as they aim to win the first match.

The side has included six proper batters and two all-rounders as England aim to beat Sri Lanka with their exceptional batters. Harry Brook will lead the team, and Test openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will open the innings for the visitors.

England go in with batting heavy side for 1st ODI

Apart from Crawley and Duckett, the team also has a plethora of batters, with Joe Root and Jacob Bethell set to don the role of middle-order batters. In all likelihood, Harry Brook will bat at 5, and Jos Buttler has also been added as the top six looks one of their best on paper.

Apart from the batters mentioned, the playing XI also consists of Will Jacks and Sam Curran, the two Surrey all-rounders. Curran has been in solid form in the T20 matches, and England will hope he can carry the same form in the ODIs against the Sri Lankan side.

Bowling attack lacks depth

Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, and Adil Rashid are the three front-line bowlers, with the visitors going in with just a solitary pacer, Overton. Sam Curran needs to chip in as the second pacer as the team has Rashid, Dawson, as the two spinners in the playing XI.

Apart from them, the likes of Joe Root, Will Jacks, and Jacob Bethell will need to chip in with the ball as the team lacks a genuine wicket-taking option. The R Premadasa Stadium stadium offers assistance to spinners and England are banking on them to deliver the goods.

England's sorry state of affairs in ODIs

2025 has not been kind to England in the 50-overs format. They failed to qualify for the knockouts and were knocked out in the group stage itself. Moreover, before the Champions Trophy, the team travelled to India and lost the ODIs.

The final nail in the coffin was the New Zealand tour in November 2025. Under the leadership of Harry Brook, the newly appointed captain, the Kiwis dismantled the Three Lions, winning all three games as the England side was whitewashed away from home, without putting up a fight.

The 2026 series against Sri Lanka provides Brook and England a chance to redeem themselves in the 50-overs format and get their combination right, as the 50-overs World Cup is hardly 1.5 years away.

England's playing XI for 1st ODI

1. Zak Crawley

2.⁠ ⁠Ben Duckett

3.⁠ ⁠Joe Root

4 Jacob Bethell

5.⁠ ⁠Harry Brook (c) 

6.⁠ ⁠Jos Buttler (wk)

7.⁠ ⁠Will Jacks

8.⁠ ⁠Sam Curran

9.⁠ ⁠Jamie Overton

10.⁠ ⁠Liam Dawson

11.⁠ ⁠Adil Rashid