Will Jacks earned high praise from England’s white‑ball captain Harry Brook on Tuesday night, being described as “outstanding” after he claimed five wickets to help his side secure an 89‑run victory over Sri Lanka. Jacks made a significant impact with both bat and ball, playing a central part in England’s 1‑0 lead in the three‑match ODI series. In the first innings England posted 265 all out, with Jacks contributing an unbeaten 46 off 47 balls.
The 27‑year‑old, who has recently been shifted down the batting order, smashed a flurry of boundaries in the 48th over, hitting four consecutive fours off Dushmantha Chameera to finish the over on 18 runs. His aggressive cameo helped England accelerate their total and set a challenging target for the visitors.
When Sri Lanka began their chase, Jacks was introduced as a bowler in the 20th over. Over the course of his spell he produced career‑best figures of 5 for 22 from seven overs, a performance that has not been seen from an England spinner in an ODI since Vic Marks’ 5‑20 against New Zealand in Wellington back in 1984. Brook lauded Jacks, saying, “He’s really growing into this role.
He’s bought into everything that we want to do, as have the other boys.” England’s innings featured solid contributions from Harry Brook (67 off 69), Joe Root (44 off 52) and Jacks himself, while Sri Lankan bowlers Sachindu Colombage (3‑44) and Asitha Fernando (3‑53) shared the wickets. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 176 in 37 overs, falling short of the 266 required. Their top scorers were Dunith Wellalage (45 off 36), Kusal Mendis (42 off 60) and Pathum Nissanka (27 off 37).
Jacks’ five‑wicket haul was complemented by Jamie Overton’s tidy 2‑21. Brook emphasized the adaptability Jacks has shown over the past 18 months, noting that many players might have complained about being asked to bat lower down the order and take on all‑round responsibilities. Instead, Jacks embraced the challenge, “He could have easily just moaned and groaned about batting in the middle‑order and playing as an all‑rounder, but he’s really grown into that and accepted that’s going to be his role for a period of time.” Brook added that Jacks is far from a part‑timer with the ball; he is a genuine off‑spinner capable of turning the ball sharply and containing runs when required.
The match narrative highlighted Jacks’ knack for breaking crucial partnerships. After dismissing Charith Asalanka for a single, England struggled to get rid of Kusal Mendis, who had settled at 42. Jacks struck again in the 27th over, trapping Sri Lankan captain Mendis lbw.
Later, when Wellalage was edging toward his half‑century, Jacks claimed his third wicket of the day, followed quickly by the dismissal of Asitha Fernando for a duck. The final wicket came when Jacks bowled Dilshan Madushanka with a sensational turning delivery that smashed the stumps, sealing England’s win. Reflecting on his new batting position, Jacks said, “I go into each game with an open mind and see what it is when I walk out there.
I think it’s quite refreshing and it keeps me relaxed.” He also spoke about his bowling mindset: “Having batted on the wicket and knowing what it was like, I knew I was going to play a decent role. Depending on what time you bowl, it doesn’t really bother me.
Harry likes us to be as flexible as possible; that’s why I think we’re achieving some good things. No matter the time, you’ve just got to do your best.” England’s senior player Eoin Morgan praised Jacks’ mental clarity and adaptability, noting, “His clarity of thought in that role and the way he unpicks every situation is different from game to game.
He’s shown a fantastic attitude and wholeheartedly throws himself into every game.” Morgan highlighted the difficulty of moving down the order for a player accustomed to opening, describing it as a high‑risk, high‑reward scenario. He observed that Jacks managed the early part of his innings well, building a solid foundation that allowed him to accelerate later. Morgan also commented on Jacks’ bowling, acknowledging that the spinner did not get an early spell because Rehan Ahmed opened the attack. Nonetheless, Jacks produced a lot of turn and was mindful of his economy, even noting a couple of wides he was not happy with.
“He was trying to be as miserly as possible. It was a great day for him.
He continues to grow into that role, which is really good because it’s a key role in ODI cricket,” Morgan concluded. The performance not only gave England a commanding lead in the series but also signaled Jacks’ evolution into a genuine all‑rounder capable of influencing matches with both bat and ball. His ability to adapt to different batting positions, deliver match‑winning spells, and maintain a positive mindset makes him a valuable asset for England’s limited‑overs plans. Fans can catch the second ODI of the three‑match series between England and Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 12 p.m.
on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Additional viewing options include Sky Sports’ streaming deals or the NOW platform, which offers contract‑free access.