Now, it is time for the next phase of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, round eight. In this phase, a new level of rivalry will open up, and some of the best teams will have to say goodbye. For match number 42 of the tournament on February 22, Sri Lanka and England will be in for a fierce battle.
Through this article, cricket fans can take an in-depth look at the playing eleven of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. T20 World Cup 2026 co-hosts Sri Lanka enter this round having proved pure dominance in the group stage. However, England faced some tough times in their group matches. But still, they survived the tough conditions and landed safely to play the last eight matches.
Playing XI of Sri Lanka vs England-ICC T20 World Cup 2026:
Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara.
Australia are proof of what can happen if Pathum Nissanka takes to the crease with his scoring bat. The batsman in clutch form will be in the center of the stage at match number 42. His opening partner, Kamil Mishra, has been providing the necessary support to Nissanka without making any mistakes. In this period of competition, England’s bowlers will have to face these two opening batsmen.
Middle-order: Kusal Mendis(w), Pawan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dushan Hemantha.
Along with Pathum Nissanka, the English bowlers will need to be careful about another in-form batsman Kusal Mendis, the batsman who has been scoring half-centuries with ease in the tournament. If the opposition bowlers are somehow able to stop Nissanka or Kusal, there will be Pawan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka – a bundle of firepower.
Bowlers: Dunith Velalej, Dushmantha Chameera, Mahesh Theekshana, Mathisha Pathirana
Sri Lankan bowlers know how to use home soil better. Being the co-host of the tournament, he is well aware of the conditions. In the group stage, they showed their true strength during the middle overs, when spinners come into the equation.
Sri Lanka Playing 11: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pawan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellelage, Dushmantha Chameera, Mahish Theekshana, Mathisha Pathirana.
Playing XI of England vs SL-T20 World Cup 2026:
Openers: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler.
On paper, the combination of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler looks like an undeniable force. But he has not been able to show his true colors in the tournament yet. England’s opening pair has been one of the worst performing machines since the start of the tournament.
Middle order: Jacob Bethel, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks.
Long-tail batting line-up – This is probably the main reason why England survived the group stage. The amount of batting talent this team has is completely mesmerizing for English cricket fans and scary for the opposition bowlers. Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Will Jaques and Sam Curran have all shown flashes of their talent in the previous stages of the tournament.
Bowlers: Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
The real weakness of the team is the bowling line-up. The all-round team lacked depth in bowling. If we took fast bowling all-rounder Sam Curran out of the equation, their bowling line-up would be diminished. Adil Rashid and Joffra Archer have not been able to bowl as per their capacity yet.
England playing XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethel, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacques, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
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