Full Breakdown
England names white-ball squads for Sri Lanka series amid new call-ups and disciplinary fallout
9/4/2026, 9:57:21 PM
Core Event – Squad announcements for the Sri Lanka tour
England have released two 16-player squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. The three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series begins in Southampton on September 15 and will be followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) starting at Chester-le-Street on September 22 and concluding at the Kia Oval on September 27. Uncapped Derbyshire opener Aneurin Donald has been named in the T20I squad, while uncapped Sussex seamer Henry Crocombe joins the ODI squad. Both players replace injured or unavailable regulars: opening batter Phil Salt (right-quad injury) and all-rounder Jacob Bethell (knee surgery).
Background & Context – Recent Test series and player availability
The squad selections come after England completed a 3-0 Test sweep of Pakistan in Birmingham, the final Test having started on September 9. The series saw England’s pace attack dominate, but the team also faced off-field issues. Durham seamer Brydon Carse was omitted from the white-ball squads after being briefly arrested outside a Derby nightclub on August 22; Derbyshire police continue to investigate an alleged assault connected to that incident.
Data & Statistics – Domestic performances that earned call-ups
- Aneurin Donald scored 489 runs in 12 Vitality Blast matches, including four half-centuries and the competition’s most sixes. He also recorded a joint-fastest Blast fifty (13 balls) for Derbyshire in 2025.
- Henry Crocombe, 24, has taken hat-tricks in his two most recent County Championship games and recorded three five-wicket hauls this season, accumulating over 100 wickets across red-ball and limited-overs formats.
Official Statements & Responses
- An England spokesperson explained the handling of Carse’s situation:
> “Given recent events, we feel it is important for [Carse] to work through the issues that led to the Derby incident and take time for a proper reset. This decision does not prejudge the outcome of any investigation.” — An England spokesperson
- England men’s selector Marcus North praised the new call-ups:
> “Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe are two promising players who have earned their places on the back of impressive performances in domestic cricket. Aneurin has had an exceptional season for Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast and also with Trent Rockets in The Hundred while Henry is a player we have had an eye on all summer.” — Marcus North
What’s Next – Schedule of the Sri Lanka white-ball tour
- T20I 1: Southampton, September 15 (Utilita Bowl)
- T20I 2: Cardiff, September 17
- T20I 3: Manchester, September 19
- ODI 1: Chester-le-Street, September 22 (Metro Bank)
- ODI 2: Leeds, September 24
- ODI 3: London, September 27
These fixtures conclude England’s home summer, after which the team will travel to Pakistan for an ODI tri-series in October.
