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 triumph over Sri Lanka. The all‑rounder made a decisive impact with both bat and ball, playing a pivotal part in England’s 1‑0 lead in the three‑match One Day International series.
England posted a total of 265 all out, with Jacks contributing a quick‑fire unbeaten 46 off 47 deliveries. His innings was highlighted by a blistering spell in the 48th over, where the 27‑year‑old, now batting lower down the order, struck four consecutive fours off Dushmantha Chameera, adding 18 runs in that single over. When it was his turn to bowl, Jacks entered the attack in the 20th over of Sri Lanka’s reply and finished with career‑best figures of 5 for 22 from seven overs – the best ODI return by an England spinner since Vic Marks’ 5‑20 against New Zealand in Wellington back in 1984. Brook commented on Jacks’ development, saying, "He’s really growing into this role.
He’s bought into everything that we want to do, as have the other boys." Brook added that the team has been working on every facet of the game, adapting to conditions, and Jacks has embraced his new responsibilities with enthusiasm rather than complaint. "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 explained. Jacks’ performance was not limited to a single breakthrough. After dismissing Charith Asalanka for one, England struggled to get rid of Kusal Mendis, who was well set on 42 off 60 balls.
Jacks broke the deadlock by trapping the Sri Lankan captain lbw in the 27th over. Later, he claimed the wicket of Dunith Wellalage, who had been the top‑scorer for Sri Lanka with 45 off 36 deliveries, just as the batsman was approaching his half‑century.
Two balls after that, Jacks removed Asitha Fernando for a duck, and he capped the innings with a spectacular turning delivery that bowled Dilshan Madushanka for a golden duck. Reflecting on his 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 noted how his experience as a batsman informs his bowling: "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 spin specialist Jamie Overton also contributed with figures of 2‑21, while the rest of the batting line‑up added valuable runs: Harry Brook made 67 off 69 balls, Joe Root 44 off 52, and the Sri Lankan bowlers Sachindu Colombage (3‑44) and Asitha Fernando (3‑53) kept the English chase in check. Sri Lanka, chasing 266, fell short at 176 all out in 37 overs, with Dunith Wellalage’s 45 the highest score, followed by Kusal Mendis (42) and Pathum Nissanka (27).
Eoin Morgan, commenting for Sky Sports Cricket, highlighted Jacks’ mental clarity and adaptability: "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. It’s easy for an opener to come down the order and think, ‘It’s not my day.’ But batting at five, six or seven is high‑risk, high‑reward." Morgan continued, "How you manage the early part of your innings is key to setting up the rest of it.
Even at the start of his innings, Jacks felt like he was scratching around a little bit. But sticking in there and building a solid start allowed him to kick on. Today, he didn’t come on to bowl as early as he would have liked because Rehan Ahmed took the ball first. He gets a huge amount of turn, and we even saw the couple of wides he bowled that he wasn’t 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." Overall, Jacks’ all‑round display underscored his evolution from a promising batting talent to a genuine all‑rounder capable of influencing matches with both bat and ball. His willingness to adapt, coupled with his ability to generate turn and maintain tight lines, makes him a valuable asset in England’s limited‑overs setup. As the series progresses, his continued development will be crucial for England’s chances of clinching the three‑match ODI contest against Sri Lanka. The second ODI of the series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 12 pm on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 12:30 pm.
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