England have bolstered their limited-overs squads for the forthcoming T20 and One-Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka by calling up two promising youngsters: uncapped Derbyshire batsman Aneurin Donald and Sussex seam bowler Henry Crocombe. Both players have impressed in domestic competitions and will join the 16‑man squads that will compete in a three‑match T20 series followed by three ODIs later this September. Aneurin Donald has been a revelation in this summer's Vitality Blast, amassing 489 runs in 12 games at a brisk strike rate and chalking up four half‑centuries.
He also led the tournament in sixes, dispatching the ball to the boundary 37 times. His aggressive approach continued in The Hundred, where he turned out for the Trent Rockets and displayed the same hard‑hitting flair. The Wales‑born right‑hander once recorded the joint‑fastest fifty in the Blast, reaching 50 off just 13 deliveries 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 left‑arm fast‑medium bowler, earned his spot in the ODI contingent after a string of eye‑catching performances in the County Championship.
He has taken hat‑tricks in his two most recent first‑class matches – one against Somerset and another versus Essex – and has accumulated 49 wickets in 36 domestic 50‑over games, plus 34 wickets in 35 T20 fixtures. In total, Crocombe has claimed more than 100 wickets across all formats, underscoring his ability to take wickets in both the red‑ball and white‑ball arenas.
Although he was added to England’s Test party during the New Zealand series in June as cover for an injured Ollie Robinson, he did not feature in the match. England’s selection panel, headed by national selector Marcus North, praised both newcomers. North said, "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." Their domestic exploits have convinced the England management that they are ready to make the step up to international cricket.
The squads also contain a blend of experienced campaigners and other emerging talents. In the T20 group, names such as Harry Brook (Yorkshire, captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), and Jordan Cox (Essex) feature alongside Donald and Crocombe.
The ODI roster mirrors many of these players, with the addition of stalwarts like Joe Root (Yorkshire) and the return of all‑rounder Jamie Overton after a quad injury sustained in the IPL. Some notable absences have also been confirmed. Fast bowler Brydon Carse, who is currently under investigation by the Cricket Regulator following an alleged assault outside a Derby nightclub in August, has been omitted from both squads.
The ECB issued a statement noting that Carse will be given time to address the issues surrounding the incident and that his exclusion does not prejudice any ongoing investigation. Additionally, Sam Curran (groin) and Jacob Bethell (knee) are out injured; Bethell has undergone successful knee surgery and aims to be fit for England’s white‑ball tour of Australia in November, while Curran’s recovery timeline remains uncertain. The T20 series will kick off in Southampton on 15 September, two days after England’s final Test against Pakistan concludes at Edgbaston. The second and third matches are scheduled for Cardiff on 17 September and Manchester’s Old Trafford on 19 September.
The ODIs will follow at Durham (22 September), Headingley (24 September) and the Oval (27 September), marking the last home white‑ball fixtures of the English summer. England’s preparation for Sri Lanka comes on the heels of a dominant 3‑0 Test sweep of Pakistan, achieved with comprehensive victories at Headingley, Lord’s and Birmingham.
After the Sri Lanka series, the England men 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 tour. Looking further ahead, a three‑Test tour of South Africa is slated for the Christmas period, followed by a one‑day series in January, and then the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with the 2028 T20 World Cup set for Australia and New Zealand.
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 are Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka. Charith Asalanka will lead the Sri Lankan side in the T20s, while Mendis remains listed as captain for the ODIs. The full Sri Lankan squads are as follows: T20 squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka.
ODI squad: Kusal Mendis (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka. All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with times listed in UK and Ireland. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports packages or stream the games contract‑free via NOW.