England playing XI vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I- Brook to lead; Salt-Buttler at top, Carse OUT

Brook to lead England vs Sri Lanka in 1st T20I [Source: dhiraj01_/X.com]

The England tour of Sri Lanka moves to the T20I series, with the first of the three-match series scheduled to be played in Pallekele on January 30, at 7 pm (IST). The teams will come in the series with a 2-1 ODI series win for England, who will play their first T20I since October 2025, when they toured New Zealand and won the series 1-0. 

On the other hand, the Dasun Shanaka-led hosts played Pakistan earlier this month and tied the three-game series 1-1. As the teams gear up for the final series ahead of the T20 World Cup, England have announced their playing XI a day before the first T20I. 

Top order: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell

The England top-order picks itself, with the world number 2 Phil Salt set to open the innings, with world number 4 and the former captain Jos Buttler at the other end.

While Ben Duckett opened the innings with Phil Salt for a brief period in the middle, the rise of Jacob Bethell as a quality number 3 batter has made things interesting for this top-order, with Buttler getting back to his preferred position.

(Duckett vs Buttler opening record in T20Is)

Additionally, England have confirmed that Duckett will miss the first T20I due to a bruised finger. 

Middle-order: Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton

Thanks to an electric 136*(66) in the 3rd ODI of the series for captain Harry Brook, following up a good knock on a rank turner in the previous ODI, the batter looks all-set for the T20 World Cup and will lead the batting line-up in the middle overs.

Interestingly, Tom Banton, who is predominantly an opening batter, was used at number 5 by England in the rain-affected series in England. In 2025, Jacks scored 292 runs in 13 T20 innings at 4 to 6 at a strike rate of 147.5.

Will Jacks, who is capable of batting anywhere in the batting lineup has been trusted with the responsibility to bat as a finisher in ODIs, which can also be the case in the T20Is. He has the ability to add runs lower down the order and has 6120 runs at a strike rate of 155.72 in T20 cricket, making him one of the automatic choices. Additionally, he can chip in with overs with his off-spin on helpful SL tracks.

After winning The Hundred with the Oval Invincibles and doing equally well across different leagues in 2025, Sam Curran is among the most improved T20 players in recent times. Since January 2025, he has accumulated 1162 T20 runs in 59 innings, scoring at 142.90 and getting 56 wickets at a strike rate of 19.90.

The long batting lineup will be capped off by pace-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton, who picked 4 wickets in the ODI series win and has 15 scalps in 15 T20Is, conceding at just over 8 runs per over. His T20 strike rate of 154.92 in 134 innings also shows his batting prowess lower down the order.

Bowlers: Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer

Considering the playing conditions in Sri Lanka, the tourists have decided to go with an extra frontline spinner. Complementing their lead spinner, Adil Rashid, will be Liam Dawson, who can bowl miserly overs and add pressure from one end, which could help Rashid’s wicket-taking from the other in the middle overs. Additionally, Dawson is a capable batter and can add runs if required.

Seasoned campaigner Jofra Archer fills the remaining slot after recovering from the side strain that he sustained during the Ashes 2025-26. 

England's playing XI for 1st T20I vs Sri Lanka

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer