England have added two uncapped players to their squads for the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, with Derbyshire’s explosive batsman Aneurin Donald joining the T20 side and Sussex seam‑bowler Henry Crocombe named in the ODI group. Both selections were announced ahead of the matches that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Donald’s domestic form has been nothing short of spectacular. In this summer’s Vitality Blast he amassed 489 runs in just 12 games, notching four half‑centuries and smashing a record 37 sixes.
His power hitting was on full display for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred, where he continued to impress selectors with his ability to dominate bowlers in the shortest formats. The Wales‑born cricketer also holds the joint‑fastest fifty in the Blast, reaching the milestone in only 13 balls for Derbyshire against Yorkshire in 2025.
His inclusion comes as England finalise a 16‑man T20 squad that will be without opening batsman Phil Salt, who is sidelined with a quadriceps injury. Crocombe, meanwhile, has earned his place in the 16‑man ODI contingent after a string of dominant performances in the County Championship. The 24‑year‑old has taken hat‑tricks in his two most recent first‑class matches, dismissing opponents such as Craig Overton of Somerset and other key batsmen.
Over the course of his domestic career he has claimed 49 wickets in 36 fifty‑over games and 34 wickets in 35 T20 fixtures, bringing his total first‑class wicket tally to well over one hundred. He will be joining Surrey from 2027, but for now he remains a Sussex player and will add depth to England’s pace attack. England’s selection panel, led by national selector Marcus North, praised both newcomers.
"Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe are two promising players who have earned their places on the back of impressive performances in domestic cricket," North said. "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." The squads also feature a blend of established internationals and other emerging talents. The T20 roster includes Harry Brook (Yorkshire, captain), 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) and Adil Rashid (Yorkshire).
The ODI list mirrors many of these names, with the addition of Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire) and a few changes such as the omission of James Coles. Not all potential selections made the cut.
Brydon Carse, who is currently under investigation by the Cricket Regulator after an alleged assault outside a Derby nightclub in August, was omitted from both squads. The ECB released a statement noting that, while Carse was technically available for selection, the board felt it was appropriate for him to focus on resolving the issues surrounding the incident before returning to the international fold. Derbyshire police are also probing the alleged assault. Injuries have also shaped the final line‑ups.
Sam Curran is missing through a groin problem, and Jacob Bethell is sidelined with a knee injury that required surgery earlier this week. Bethell’s recovery timetable targets a return for England’s white‑ball tour of Australia in November.
Jamie Overton, who missed the July T20 and ODI series against India due to a quadriceps injury sustained in the IPL, is now back in contention. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson, along with batsmen Jordan Cox and Ben Duckett, have been named in both the T20 and ODI squads.
The T20 series against Sri Lanka will kick off in Southampton on 15 September, two days after the final Test against Pakistan concludes at Edgbaston. The second match follows in Cardiff on 17 September and the third at Old Trafford on 19 September.
The ODI leg will then move north, with fixtures at Durham (22 September), Headingley (24 September) and The Oval (27 September), marking the last home white‑ball assignments of the English summer. Crocombe’s involvement with England’s senior 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. His domestic record includes 18 half‑centuries and 2,423 runs in 106 innings of T20 cricket, with a career best of 91. These statistics underline his potential as a middle‑order stabiliser who can also contribute with the ball.
Other uncapped Sussex players are also in the mix. Spin‑bowling all‑rounder James Coles retains his place in the T20 squad after earning his maiden call‑up for the India series earlier in the year, though he was left out of the ODI group. This reflects England’s strategy of rotating emerging talent to give them exposure at the highest level.
Head coach Brendon McCullum, now solely responsible for white‑ball cricket after stepping down from the Test role following the 2‑1 series loss to New Zealand, will have the luxury of calling upon Test captain Joe Root for the ODIs, as England have chosen not to rest him. The team will also aim to cap off a dominant home season with a 3‑0 Test sweep of Pakistan in Birmingham, scheduled for 9 September, after comprehensive victories at Headingley and Lord’s.
Looking ahead, England’s calendar remains packed. After the Sri Lanka series, the side will travel to Pakistan in October for a tri‑series involving Sri Lanka, before heading to Australia in November for a three‑match ODI series and a five‑match T20 series. The winter will see a three‑Test tour of South Africa over the Christmas period, overseen by new red‑ball coach Stephen Fleming, followed by three ODIs against the Proteas in January. The next ICC 50‑over World Cup is slated for 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with a subsequent T20 World Cup planned for 2028 in Australia and New Zealand.
Both tournaments will provide further opportunities for the likes of Donald and Crocombe to cement their places in England’s long‑term plans. Sri Lanka will be without their white‑ball captain Kusal Mendis, who is nursing a hamstring injury, and left‑arm pacer Binura Fernando, sidelined with a back problem.
They have been replaced by Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka respectively. In the T20s, Charith Asalanka will lead the side in Mendis’s absence, while the ODI squad retains Mendis as captain. The Sri Lankan line‑ups feature a mix of experienced campaigners such as Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, alongside emerging talents like Pathum Nissanka and Dushmantha Chameera.
All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with times listed in UK and Ireland. Fans who do not have a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the games contract‑free via NOW, ensuring that the entire England home series against Sri Lanka is accessible to a broad audience.