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England will take on Sri Lanka in the third match of the Pakistan ODI tri-series 2026 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 22. Led by Harry Brook, the visitors will look to deliver a strong performance against a Sri Lankan side eager to make an impact in the tournament. The tri-series also features hosts Pakistan, with the teams using the competition to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
England have named a 16-member squad for the competition, featuring experienced players such as Joe Root and Adil Rashid alongside promising newcomers Mason Crane, James Coles and Henry Crocombe. Sam Curran has returned after recovering from a groin injury, while Jos Buttler is unavailable because of a hamstring injury and Jofra Archer has been rested.
With a combination of established international performers and emerging talent, England have several options available for the contest.
Ben Duckett is expected to open the innings and provide England with an aggressive start. The left-hander is comfortable taking on bowlers during the powerplay and can put pressure on Sri Lanka’s new-ball attack. His ability to find gaps and rotate the strike will also be important if the opening overs offer assistance to the seamers.
Tom Banton is likely to partner Duckett at the top. His attacking approach and ability to score quickly make him a useful option in England’s top order. Banton will need to balance aggression with discipline, particularly against Sri Lanka’s spin options. A productive opening partnership could allow England to dictate the tempo from the beginning.
Joe Root could bat at No. 3 and provide stability to the innings. His experience and ability to adapt to different match situations make him a vital part of England’s batting lineup. Root can rebuild after early wickets or accelerate once the team has established a platform. His ability to handle spin will be especially important in subcontinental conditions.
Harry Brook is expected to bat at No. 4 and lead England’s charge. The right-hander can shift gears quickly and put pressure on opposition bowlers through his range of attacking strokes. As captain, he will also have to make tactical decisions about batting tempo and the use of his bowling resources. His performance could play a major role in determining England’s total.
Jordan Cox is a strong candidate to take the wicketkeeping role in Buttler’s absence. He can add depth to the middle order and help England maintain momentum after the top four. Cox’s ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries will be crucial if Sri Lanka’s bowlers slow the scoring rate during the middle overs.
Will Jacks could feature at No. 6 as a batting all-rounder. His aggressive stroke play makes him a valuable option in the latter stages of the innings, while his off-spin offers Brook another bowling alternative. Jacks could be particularly influential if England need a late acceleration or a breakthrough against a settled partnership.
Sam Curran is expected to provide balance at No. 7. Having returned to the squad after recovering from injury, he offers left-handed batting and left-arm pace. Curran can contribute with the new ball and during the death overs, while his batting gives England additional depth if the top order fails to capitalise.
Liam Dawson could be selected as a spin-bowling all-rounder. His left-arm orthodox spin can help control the middle overs, while his batting provides cover lower down the order. Dawson’s ability to vary his pace and maintain accuracy could prove useful against Sri Lanka’s middle order.
Adil Rashid is likely to lead England’s spin attack. The experienced leg-spinner has a wide range of variations and can create wicket-taking opportunities when batters look to attack. His role will be important on a surface where spin could influence the middle overs. England will hope he can both restrict runs and break partnerships.
Gus Atkinson is expected to lead the pace attack alongside Curran. His ability to generate pace and attack the stumps makes him a useful option with the new ball. Atkinson will also be expected to deliver effective spells at the death, when Sri Lanka may look to increase their scoring rate.
Josh Tongue could complete the XI as another seam-bowling option. His ability to hit the deck and extract movement would give England variety in their pace attack. He will need to maintain consistent lines and lengths against Sri Lanka’s technically sound batters.
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