England have added two fresh faces to their limited‑overs squads for the forthcoming T20 and One‑Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka, with both matches set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The newcomers are Derbyshire’s explosive batsman Aneurin Donald, who has yet to earn an international cap, and Sussex’s promising seam bowler Henry Crocombe, also uncapped at senior level. Donald’s domestic credentials are hard to overlook. In this summer’s Vitality Blast he amassed 489 runs across twelve games, notching four half‑centuries and smashing a tournament‑leading 37 sixes.
His aggressive style also shone in The Hundred, where he turned out for the Trent Rockets and continued to demonstrate his ability to dominate bowlers. The Wales‑born right‑hander once recorded a joint‑fastest fifty in the Blast, reaching the milestone in just 13 balls for Derbyshire against Yorkshire in 2025.
His inclusion comes as England finalise a 16‑player T20 squad that will be missing opening batsman 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 is set to move to Surrey from 2027, has already taken 49 wickets in 36 domestic 50‑over games and added another 34 scalps in 35 T20 fixtures, pushing his overall red‑ball wicket tally beyond the hundred‑mark. His recent first‑class hat‑tricks came against Somerset and Essex, with one of the dismissals being Craig Overton, the twin brother of England all‑rounder Jamie Overton. Crocombe’s performances have earned him a place in the 16‑man ODI squad for the Sri Lanka series. England’s selection panel, led by national selector Marcus North, praised both players.
North said, “Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe have both earned their spots through outstanding domestic form. Donald’s power hitting in the Blast and his contributions in The Hundred have been exceptional, while Henry has been on our radar all summer for his consistent wicket‑taking and ability to swing the ball.” The squads also feature a blend of established internationals and other emerging talents. The T20 group includes names such as captain Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Jordan Cox (Essex), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) and Joe Root (Yorkshire). The ODI lineup mirrors many of these selections, with the addition of Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire) and the omission of a few T20‑only players.
Not all anticipated players made the cut. Brydon Carse, who is currently under investigation by the Cricket Regulator following an alleged assault outside a Derby nightclub in August, was omitted entirely.
The ECB clarified that Carse, although technically available, was not selected to allow him time to address the issues surrounding the incident. Derbyshire police are also probing the alleged assault. An ECB spokesperson added, “Given recent events, it is appropriate for Carse to focus on resolving the matters that led to the Derby incident and to take a period for a proper reset.
This decision does not prejudice any outcome of the ongoing investigation.” Injuries also influenced the final rosters. Sam Curran is out with a groin problem, and Jacob Bethell is sidelined after knee surgery; Bethell is expected to recover in time for the white‑ball tour of Australia in November. Jamie Overton, who missed the July home series against India due to a quadriceps injury sustained in the IPL, is now back in the mix.
Fast bowler Gus Atkinson, as well as batsmen Jordan Cox and Ben Duckett, have been retained in both the T20 and ODI squads. The T20 series against Sri Lanka kicks off in Southampton on 15 September, just two days after England’s final Test against Pakistan concludes at Edgbaston.
The second and third matches will follow in Cardiff on 17 September and at Old Trafford on 19 September. The ODI leg, marking the close of England’s home summer, will be staged at Durham (22 September), Headingley (24 September) and The Oval (27 September). Crocombe had previously been added to England’s Test party for the New Zealand series in June when Sussex teammate Ollie Robinson suffered a knee niggle, although Crocombe did not feature in the playing XI. His domestic record includes 49 wickets in 36 50‑over games and 34 wickets in 35 T20 matches, underscoring 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 was left out of the ODI contingent. Donald, meanwhile, has accumulated 18 fifties and 2,423 runs in domestic T20 cricket over 106 innings, with a personal best of 91. Head coach Brendon McCullum, now solely responsible for England’s white‑ball teams after his removal as Test coach following the 2‑1 series loss to New Zealand, will have the option of resting Test captain Joe Root for the ODIs, though England have indicated they will keep him in the side.
The England side will aim to finish a 3‑0 Test sweep of Pakistan in Birmingham (9 September) before turning their attention to the limited‑overs contests. Looking ahead, England will travel to Pakistan in October for an ODI tri‑series that also features Sri Lanka, before heading to Australia in November for a three‑match ODI series and a five‑match T20 series. The calendar then moves to a three‑Test tour of South Africa over the Christmas period, with Stephen Fleming now in charge of the red‑ball side after succeeding McCullum. That tour will be followed by three ODIs against the Proteas in January.
The next ICC 50‑over World Cup is slated for South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in late 2027, while the subsequent T20 World Cup will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2028. Sri Lanka will be without white‑ball captain Kusal Mendis (hamstring) and left‑arm pacer Binura Fernando (back injury) for the England T20 series, as both recover from injuries sustained in the Lanka Premier League.
Their replacements are Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka. Charith Asalanka will lead Sri Lanka in the T20s, while Mendis remains listed in the ODI squad. All matches are broadcast live on Sky Sports, with times listed for the UK and Ireland. Fans can watch every England home game, including the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, via Sky Sports, a Sky subscription, or through streaming options such as NOW.