in the series opening batsman in colomboA basis where setting goals is statistically profitable, Sri Lanka Won the toss and decided to bat first. captain of england harry brook Admittedly he would have chosen the same option, but his primary focus was on forced adjustments to the lineup. Despite declaring their squad last evening, England had to replace an all-rounder will jacks. This late comeback paved the way for the young leg spinner Rehan Ahmed The inclusion in the XI offered the visitors a tactical shift towards a spin-heavy attack on a surface expected to hold.
This is why Will Jacques is not in the playing eleven despite being initially named for the Colombo ODI
Just an hour before the toss on Thursday, January 22, 2026, R. The Premadasa Stadium saw a hasty makeover. Jack, who was set to play a key role as an aggressive top-order batsman and off-spin bowler, was assessed by the medical team during the pre-match warm-up. Despite his importance to the balance of the team, he was unable to take the field due to the sudden onset of illness. The England management confirmed the withdrawal late, when the team sheet was being finalised, forcing a strategic shift towards a more spin-heavy bowling unit.
Captain Brook addressed the unexpected change in the toss:
“We would have had a bat earlier, but it is just the way it is. Jack.” [Crawley] Came to open the batting with Ben [Duckett]. Rehan replaces the ill Will Jack. Sri Lanka is a big team at home and we want to perform well against them. Brook said.
Jack’s absence is a big blow for the visitors, especially when he was expected to handle the middle order and contribute in crucial overs. However, the medical staff prioritized his recovery, with the expectation that he would be available for the second ODI on Saturday.
See also: Sri Lanka unveils ICC T20 World Cup 2026 trophy in spectacular style at R Premadasa Stadium
SL vs ENG 2026: Kusal Mendis bowls out Sri Lanka for 271 as England’s spin-heavy attack fails
Introduced into the team just minutes before the toss, the tactical change led England to rely on their slower bowlers as Sri Lanka posted a competitive score of 271/6 in their 50 overs. The match started with a steady partnership of 50 runs between the two. Pathum Nissanka And kamil misharaFirst Sam Curran Provided success. After this England’s spinners took control adil rashid Mishra getting out and trapping later Dhananjay de Silva LBW for 10 runs. Rehan Ahmed also made an impact and dismissed the dangerous charit asalanka (17) The batsman was hit on the helmet after a top-edged sweep and lofted to Harry Brook at leg slip.
Despite regular wickets, Sri Lanka’s innings was capped by his brilliant unbeaten 93 runs. Kusal MendisWho faced the threat of spin with great composure despite suffering from back pain at the end of his innings. Mendis got capable support in this Zenith LianazWho contributed a vital 46 runs in the 88-run partnership which provided stability to the hosts. A late, quick-fire cameo of 25* off 12 balls Dunith Village Helped in taking the total beyond 270. For England, Rashid was the best bowler with figures of 3 for 44, while the visitors now face a challenging target on a pitch that is expected to hold out even more under lights.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2026: Shock to Bangladesh, Pakistan is looking for options
