England Predicted Playing XI vs Sri Lanka- 1st ODI, SL Tour of ENG 2026

England cricket team [Source: AFP]After a clean whitewash in the T20I series, the England cricket team is all set to challenge Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series at home. The match will be held at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, on September 22, with the clash going live from 5 PM IST.England will be riding high on confidence after Harry Brook led the team’s campaign for a clean sweep to the visitors. The ODI leg will be led by Harry Brook again, with a few changes in the squad composition. Ahead of the England vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI, let’s take a look at the predicted Playing XI of Brook’s men, which can challenge an equally formidable Sri Lanka side.Openers and Top Order: Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c)Ben Duckett will be a prolific opening prospect for the England ODI team. He has been a consistent performer at the top in one-dayers and will continue to do so alongside veteran Joe Root.In ODIs, Ben Duckett and Joe Root have accounted for 768 runs from 15 innings they have played together, averaging 51.2 as openers. Hence, the duo will be responsible for forming the foundation of the innings.Tom Banton, who didn’t impress in the T20I series, might be called in for a No. 3 stint. The primarily aggressive top-order batter can be used as a filler to compensate for slow run rates or to anchor any early scare. Banton averages 38.00 in this role in ODI cricket.Harry Brook, the skipper of the team, will be coming in at No. 4 to take control of the middle overs while also possessing the ability to strike big when required. Interestingly, Brook has already made it to the Top 10 list of having the highest ODI runs as an England batter at No. 4 with 710 runs from 21 games.Also Read- Watch- Harry Brook Shows Ultra Game Awareness To Take Reflex Catch In ENG vs SLMiddle Order: Jos Buttler (wk), Will Jacks, Jamie OvertonThe otherwise aggressive T20 top-order player, Jos Buttler, is a very utility-based batter in the middle order in ODIs. Buttler averages 37.74 at No. 5 while maintaining a strike rate of 110.31. He recently produced a 41* against India and the same against West Indies, with very rare figures of 15, 5 and 10 during his ODI appearances.Will Jacks, the handy spin option for England and a powerful aggressor with the bat, with the capability of hitting big, will be beneficial for the team in the conclusive stage of their innings. In death overs, from 7 ODI innings, he has hit 6 boundaries and 2 sixes while averaging 75.0.Jamie Overton, a useful pace bowler who has the ability to strike well with impact, is also a hitter of the ball and hence will be a solid aggregator with the bat in the lower order. He averages 27.20 in ODIs and has a bowling average of 29.50, which further underlines his impact as an all-rounder.Bowlers: Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh TongueGus Atkinson will be coming off a mixed series against Pakistan, where he scalped 4 wickets. His pace-bowling attribute was on display against India, though. He took a 3-fer in the 2nd ODI to dismantle Shubman Gill, among others and restrict the Men in Blue’s total to just 233, leading to a 4-wicket win for England.Alongside Atkinson, Jofra Archer will be leading the pace attack for the team. The in-form pacer is also the third-highest wicket-taker for England in ODIs in 2026 and will continue to lead from the front after a successful T20I series against Sri Lanka.Josh Tongue will be another pace option, adding up to the four-pronged pace attack England might deploy. The right-arm pacer’s recent form includes multiple 3-wicket and 4-wicket hauls, especially in the Pakistan Tests where he bagged 19 scalps.Leading the spin department will be Adil Rashid. He was phenomenal in the India series, picking 7 wickets during the white-ball series while having an unbelievable strike rate of 15.00 in the T20I leg, that too on English conditions. Hence, Adil Rashid will be a massive contributor for the team with the ball if he gets a nod in the Playing XI.England Predicted Playing XI vs Sri Lanka- 1st ODIBen Duckett, Joe Root, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh TongueAlso Read- Fresh Development In Vipraj Nigam Case, Delhi Capitals Player Could Land In Trouble Again