England hands debuts to Donald and Crocombe as Brook leads

England’s white-ball reset will take another sharp turn next month, with two new names handed international debuts and Harry Brook confirmed as captain across both formats for the home series against Sri Lanka.

Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe are the latest to be fast-tracked into the England set-up, each rewarded for standout domestic campaigns as selectors continue to widen the pool ahead of a packed global calendar.

Donald and Crocombe crash the door down

For Aneurin Donald, the call is a long-awaited crack at the top level. The Derbyshire opener, one of the most destructive hitters on the county circuit this season, has been parachuted straight into the T20I squad. His inclusion underlines England’s intent to keep the throttle open in the shortest format, even as they juggle injuries and workloads.

Henry Crocombe’s elevation is quieter but just as significant. The Sussex seamer has been named in the ODI squad after a summer that clearly impressed the national panel. England have been hunting fresh pace options for the 50-over game; Crocombe now gets his audition under full glare.

Brook, entrusted with the captaincy for both T20Is and ODIs, will lead two squads that blend hardened campaigners with emerging talent:

England T20I squad
Harry Brook (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Liam Dawson, Aneurin Donald, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue.

England ODI squad
Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Sonny Baker, Jos Buttler, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Josh Tongue.

The continuity is striking. Archer, Atkinson, Tongue and Jamie Overton give Brook serious pace options in both formats, while Adil Rashid anchors the spin attack and Buttler’s presence offers both experience and firepower, even without the armband.

Overton back; Salt and Bethell sidelined

Jamie Overton’s name in both squads carries its own weight. The all-rounder missed the white-ball series against India earlier in the summer with a thigh injury; now he returns as a genuine three-dimensional option, capable of changing games with bat, ball or in the field.

England are not at full strength, though. Phil Salt, a central figure in England’s powerplay blueprint, misses the tour with a right quad injury. His absence leaves a noticeable hole at the top, one that Donald, Banton, Jacks and Duckett will jostle to fill.

Jacob Bethell remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from knee surgery, delaying his push for a regular role in the set-up.

Asalanka handed the reins as Mendis ruled out

Across the dressing-room divide, Sri Lanka arrive with their own reshuffle and a new leader for the T20Is. Charith Asalanka will captain the side after regular skipper Kusal Mendis was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Mendis picked up the problem during the Lanka Premier League in July and has already missed Sri Lanka’s Test series against India. The setback now stretches into the white-ball tour of England, stripping Sri Lanka of one of their most reliable limited-overs batters and on-field tacticians.

Pavan Rathnayake has been drafted in as Mendis’ replacement, while left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka joins the T20I squad in place of Binura Fernando, who has been sidelined with a back injury.

For Asalanka, this is more than a stand-in job. The series marks his return to the T20I set-up after he was dropped for the tour of the West Indies in June. Now he walks back in with the captaincy on his shoulders and a point to prove.

Sri Lanka T20I squad
Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Pavan Rathnayake, Dilshan Madushanka.

There is no shortage of threat. Hasaranga and Theekshana bring guile and control, Chameera and Nuwan Thushara offer pace and awkward angles, while Nissanka and Shanaka provide ballast with the bat. With Madushanka’s left-arm angle back in the mix, Sri Lanka’s attack has variety to trouble English conditions.

Six games, two formats, one sharp examination

The tour is compact but unforgiving: three T20Is followed by three ODIs, all in a tight 12-day window.

The T20I leg opens in Southampton on 15 September, moves to Cardiff on 17 September and finishes in Manchester on 19 September. The 50-over series starts in Chester-le-Street on 22 September, heads to Leeds on 24 September and closes at The Oval on 27 September.

For England, it is another step in retooling their white-ball identity under a new generation of leaders and match-winners. For Sri Lanka, it is a chance to test a fresh captain and a reshaped attack against one of the most aggressive batting line-ups in the game.

New skippers, new caps, familiar pressure. By the time The Oval lights go out on 27 September, both boards will know a lot more about who belongs in their plans for the next World Cup cycle—and who does not.