England have bolstered their limited-overs contingents for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka by adding two fresh faces: uncapped Derbyshire batsman Aneurin Donald and Sussex seam bowler Henry Crocombe. Both players earned their call‑ups after standout performances in domestic competitions, and they will join a 16‑man squad for the Twenty20 matches and a separate 16‑man group for the One Day Internationals, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Aneurin Donald arrived on the selectors' radar after a prolific summer in the Vitality Blast, where he amassed 489 runs in just twelve games. His tally included four half‑centuries and a remarkable strike rate that saw him top the six‑hitting charts with thirty‑seven sixes. Donald also showcased his power‑hitting abilities for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred, further cementing his reputation as a hard‑hitting middle‑order option.
The Wales‑born batter once recorded a joint‑fastest fifty in the Blast, reaching the milestone in a mere thirteen balls for Derbyshire against Yorkshire in 2025. His inclusion comes as England’s T20 squad is missing opening batsman Phil Salt, who is sidelined with a quadriceps injury. Henry Crocombe, a 24‑year‑old right‑arm fast‑bowler from Sussex, has been rewarded for a string of impressive displays in the County Championship.
He claimed back‑to‑back hat‑tricks in his most recent first‑class matches, dismissing top‑order batsmen from Somerset and Essex, including a wicket of Craig Overton, the brother of England all‑rounder Jamie Overton. Crocombe’s domestic record is equally compelling in the limited‑overs format: he has taken 49 wickets in 36 fifty‑over games and added another 34 scalps in 35 T20 fixtures, pushing his total first‑class wicket haul beyond the hundred‑mark. His performances earned him a spot in the ODI squad, and he will also be part of the Test party that travelled to New Zealand in June, although he did not feature in any match.
England selector Marcus North praised both newcomers, stating, “Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe have earned their places through consistently impressive domestic seasons. Donald’s explosive batting in the Blast and The Hundred makes him a valuable asset, while Henry’s pace and wicket‑taking ability have been on our radar all summer.” The squads also feature a blend of seasoned internationals and emerging talent. The T20 roster includes captain Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), and a host of other players such as Jordan Cox, Liam Dawson, and Saqib Mahmood. The ODI line‑up mirrors many of these names, with the addition of Joe Root as a senior batting mainstay.
Notably, Brydon Carse is omitted following an ongoing investigation into an alleged assault outside a Derby nightclub in August; the ECB has opted to give him time to address the matter before any further selection decisions. Similarly, Sam Curran (groin) and Jacob Bethell (knee) miss out due to injury, although Bethell has undergone successful surgery and is targeting a return on the Australian tour later in the year.
Jamie Overton, who missed the recent home series against India because of a quadriceps problem sustained in the IPL, is back in the fold. His return adds depth to England’s pace attack alongside the likes of Gus Atkinson and the newly added Crocombe.
The T20 series against Sri Lanka will kick off in Southampton on 15 September, followed by fixtures in Cardiff on 17 September and at Old Trafford on 19 September. The ODI series, which marks the final home white‑ball assignment of the summer, will be staged at Durham (22 September), Headingley (24 September) and The Oval (27 September). Crocombe’s future with Surrey has already been secured, with a move scheduled for 2027. His domestic statistics underline his versatility: over 100 wickets across red‑ball and limited‑overs cricket, and a growing reputation for delivering in high‑pressure situations.
Donald, meanwhile, has compiled 18 fifties and 2,423 runs in 106 domestic T20 innings, with a personal best of 91. These numbers illustrate why England’s coaching staff, led by white‑ball specialist Brendon McCullum, are eager to integrate them into the senior set‑up. England will aim to complete a clean sweep of the Pakistan Test series before turning their attention to the Sri Lankan white‑ball fixtures. After securing a 3‑0 victory in the Tests, the team will travel to Pakistan in October for a tri‑series involving Sri Lanka, before heading to Australia in November for a combined ODI and T20 programme.
Looking further ahead, England’s calendar includes a three‑Test tour of South Africa over the Christmas period under new red‑ball coach Stephen Fleming, followed by a series of ODIs in January and the 2027 ICC World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with a T20 World Cup slated for Australia and New Zealand in 2028. Sri Lanka will be without their white‑ball captain Kusal Mendis (hamstring) and left‑arm pacer Binura Fernando (back injury) for the T20 series, as both recover from injuries sustained in the Lanka Premier League. Their replacements, Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka, have been named in the squad.
Charith Asalanka will lead the Sri Lankan side in the T20 format, while Mendis remains listed for the ODIs. The Sri Lankan T20 squad also features Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, and the experienced all‑rounder Dasun Shanaka, among others. The ODI squad retains Mendis as captain and includes a similar core of batsmen and bowlers, supplemented by additional pace options such as Asitha Fernando.
All matches will be streamed live on Sky Sports, with alternative viewing options available via NOW for those without a Sky subscription. The series promises a blend of emerging talent and established stars, offering fans a compelling showcase of England’s depth in the white‑ball game as they prepare for a busy international summer and an ambitious schedule beyond.