England have bolstered their limited‑overs contingents for the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka by calling up two uncapped players: Derbyshire’s explosive middle‑order batter Aneurin Donald and Sussex’s promising seam bowler Henry Crocombe. Both youngsters earned their places after standout performances in domestic competitions, and they will join the 16‑man squads for the Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and One‑Day Internationals (ODIs) that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports later this month. Donald’s domestic credentials are impressive.
In the current season of the Vitality Blast he amassed 489 runs in 12 matches, registering four half‑centuries and topping the six‑hitting chart with 37 sixes. His aggressive approach was further highlighted during his stint with the Trent Rockets in The Hundred, where he continued to demonstrate his power‑hitting capabilities.
The Wales‑born batsman also holds the joint record for the fastest Blast fifty, reaching the milestone in just 13 balls for Derbyshire against Yorkshire in 2025. His inclusion comes as England’s T20 squad is missing opening batter Phil Salt, who is sidelined with a quadriceps injury. On the bowling side, Henry Crocombe has been a revelation in the County Championship, claiming hat‑tricks in his two most recent matches. The 24‑year‑old, who will move to Surrey from 2027, has taken 49 wickets in 36 domestic 50‑over games and added another 34 wickets in 35 T20 fixtures, bringing his total first‑class wicket tally to well over 100.
His recent hat‑tricks came against Somerset and Essex, with one of the dismissals being the twin brother of England all‑rounder Jamie Overton. Crocombe’s form earned him a spot in the 16‑man ODI group for the series.
England’s selection panel, headed by national selector Marcus North, praised both players. North said, “Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe are two promising talents 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 been monitoring all summer.” The squads also feature a blend of experienced internationals and other emerging names.
In the T20 line‑up, England will field captain Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), James Coles (Sussex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) and Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire). The ODI squad mirrors many of these selections, with the addition of Joe Root as the appointed captain.
Notably absent from the squads is Brydon Carse, who is currently under investigation by the Cricket Regulator following an alleged assault outside a Derby nightclub in August. Although Carse was technically available for selection, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to omit him, stating, “Given recent events, we feel it is important for him 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.” Derbyshire police are also looking into the assault allegation. Injuries have also shaped the final lists. Sam Curran is missing due to a groin problem, while Jacob Bethell is out with a knee injury; Bethell recently underwent successful surgery and is targeting a return on the white‑ball tour of Australia in November.
Jamie Overton, who missed the July T20 and ODI series against India because of a quadriceps injury sustained in the IPL, is back in the fold. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson, as well as batters Jordan Cox and Ben Duckett, have been retained in both the T20 and ODI squads. The T20 series against Sri Lanka will kick off in Southampton on 15 September, followed by matches in Cardiff on 17 September and at Emirates Old Trafford on 19 September.
The ODIs, which will be England’s final home white‑ball assignments of the summer, are scheduled for Durham (22 September), Headingley (24 September) and The Kia Oval (27 September). Crocombe’s involvement with the senior England set‑up is not entirely new; he was added to the Test squad for the New Zealand series in June when Sussex teammate Ollie Robinson suffered a knee niggle, although Crocombe did not make his debut at that time. His domestic record includes 49 wickets in 36 List‑A games and 34 wickets in 35 T20 matches, underlining his versatility across formats. Another uncapped Sussex player, spin‑bowling all‑rounder James Coles, remains in the T20 squad after earning his first call‑up for the India series earlier in the year, but he has been omitted from the ODI group.
Donald’s domestic T20 statistics are equally compelling: 18 half‑centuries and 2,423 runs across 106 innings, with a highest score of 91. His ability to accelerate the scoring rate makes him an attractive option for England’s middle order, especially in the high‑tempo environment of modern T20 cricket. Head coach Brendon McCullum, now solely responsible for England’s white‑ball programmes after being relieved of Test duties following the 2‑1 series loss to New Zealand, will have the option of resting Test captain Joe Root for the ODIs, but the ECB has indicated that Root will lead the side in the limited‑overs fixtures. England will aim to finish their home summer with a clean sweep of the three‑match Test series against Pakistan, which concludes on 9 September in Birmingham, before turning their attention to the white‑ball contests with Sri Lanka.
Following the home series, England are scheduled to travel to Pakistan in October for an ODI tri‑series that also features Sri Lanka, then head to Australia in November for a three‑match ODI series and a five‑match T20 series. Looking further ahead, the England men will embark on a three‑Test tour of South Africa over the Christmas period under new red‑ball coach Stephen Fleming, who succeeded McCullum in that role.
That tour will be followed by three ODIs against the Proteas in January. The next ICC 50‑over World Cup is slated for late 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with the subsequent T20 World Cup set for 2028 in Australia and New Zealand.
Sri Lanka’s white‑ball squads have also been impacted by injuries. Captain Kusal Mendis (hamstring) and left‑arm pacer Binura Fernando (back) are missing from the T20 series, with Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka named as their replacements. Charith Asalanka will lead the Sri Lankan side in the T20s, while Mendis remains listed in the ODI squad despite his injury.
All matches will be shown live on Sky Sports, with times listed in UK and Ireland. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the games contract‑free via NOW.