![England predicted XI vs SL [Source: @englandcricket/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1771592345211_England.jpg?type=hq)
England predicted XI vs SL [Source: @englandcricket/x]
England and Sri Lanka cricket teams will be squaring off in the second Super 8 match of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The much-awaited ENG vs SL contest will be hosted by the Pallekele International Stadium in Pallekele on Sunday, February 22 and the action will commence from 3:00 PM IST onwards.
The match marks the opening Super 8 fixture for both sides in the tournament. Both England and Sri Lanka concluded their respective runs in the opening round as runners-up of their groups.
England vs Sri Lanka Preview
The England cricket team registered three wins from four matches to finish second on the Group C points table. After overcoming Nepal scare in Mumbai, and losing to West Indies, the Englishmen bounced back and walloped Scotland and Italy in successive games.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, started off with formidable wins over Ireland, Oman and Australia. A win over Australia courtesy of a Pathum Nissanka century sealed Sri Lanka’s place in the Super 8s. However, the hosts lost its final Group B match of the tournament against Zimbabwe to slip to the second spot on the standings.
England Playing XI vs Sri Lanka- Super 8 Match 2
Openers and Top Order (Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell)
England Playing XI vs Sri Lanka will likely continue to persist with the same opening combination of Phil Salt and former captain Jos Buttler. Even though the two cricketers are yet to notch up a single notable opening partnership with each other, any changes this late in the tournament will only prove detrimental to England’s prospects.
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Jacob Bethell at number three has minted over 100 runs already for England, which included a match-winning 55 against Nepal a couple of weeks ago at the Wankhede Stadium. All in all, Salt, Buttler and Bethell will be expected to helm England’s top-order once again heading into the Super 8s.
Middle Order and All Rounders (Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Will Jacks)
Hard-hitting batters Tom Banton, captain Harry Brook, Sam Curran and Will Jacks will be expected to constitute the famed middle-order in England Playing XI vs Sri Lanka. Banton, Brook and Jacks all hold staggering strike rates in T20I cricket, and each of the aforementioned three batters have notched up a match-winning half-century this tournament.
With Sam Curran, England will also receive an ideal fast-bowling candidate. The star all-rounder recently delivered a tight final over against Nepal to pull England out of a certain jail. Apart from bagging six wickets so far in the T20 World Cup 2026, Curran has registered 98 runs at an average of 32.67.
Bowlers (Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid)
Jamie Overton will likely continue to share the new ball for England. However, the England team management might feel tempted to axe Overton’s pace partner Jofra Archer from the playing XI against Sri Lanka. With England prepping itself to play their first match of the 2026 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, the management might add an additional spinner in the team at the expense of Archer.
Moreover, the fast bowler has already proven expensive for England in the last few games, especially in the matches against Nepal and West Indies. Rehan Ahmed can receive a surprise call-up into the England Playing XI vs Sri Lanka, where he can join fellow spinners Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid on a turning Pallekele surface.
England Playing XI vs Sri Lanka- Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton (c), Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid.
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