Sri Lanka and England will face each other in the third and final ODI of the series at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Tuesday, January 27. With the series level at 1-1, this match will decide the winner.

Sri Lanka started the series well by winning the first ODI by 19 runs. However, they were unable to take the momentum into the second match. England had a strong comeback in the last match, with Joe Root playing a crucial role in helping his team level the series. Now, the team will have to regroup and perform better in this crucial match.

In the second ODI, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 219 runs after choosing to bat first. Dhananjaya de Silva (40) and Charith Asalanka (45) were the top contributors, but the team lost wickets at regular intervals. While chasing, England stayed calm after an early wicket. Joe Root scored 75, while Ben Duckett added 39, helping England win the match in the 47th over with five wickets remaining.

SL vs ENG: Head-to-Head Record (ODIs)

• Matches Played: 81
• Sri Lanka Won: 38
• England Won: 39
• Tied: 1
• No Result: 3

SL vs ENG: Pitch Report

The pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium has helped spinners, especially as the match progresses. It gets very difficult to bat out of the powerplay, and teams need to build partnerships carefully. The average first-innings score is 230, which shows it is not that easy to score freely, making bowlers a big factor in the game.

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SL vs ENG: Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka (SL):

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

England (ENG):

Joe Root, Rehan Ahmed, Harry Brook (c), Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell,  Jos Buttler (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid

England captain Harry Brook did not hold back after his team’s win in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Chasing 220, England sealed the match by five wickets with 22 balls remaining. The victory ended England’s long 11-match losing streak away from home. It was a much-needed boost for the visitors.

Brook said the win felt special given the conditions. He admitted that batting was extremely difficult on the sluggish surface. The England skipper stressed that quick adaptation was the key to success. According to him, survival at the crease mattered more than scoring freely.

“It's nice to get a win away from home and on a tough surface. We're happy to get the victory,” Brook said. He then criticized the pitch heavily. “The pitch is probably the worst pitch I've ever played on,” he added, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“Not a Great Wicket for ODI Cricket,” Says Root

Joe Root, who was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, shared similar thoughts. Root said he always enjoys visiting Sri Lanka and feels welcomed every time. However, he admitted the pitch made batting very challenging. He felt the surface did not suit the ODI format.

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“I always love coming to Sri Lanka. It's a great country,” Root said. Speaking about the wicket, he added, “I don't think that's a great wicket for ODI cricket, if I'm being brutally honest.” Root explained that he tried to play the ball late to manage the conditions. England, he said, learned from their mistakes in the first game.

An important 81-run partnership between Brook and Root played a big role in England’s win. Batting remained tough throughout the match for both teams. Spinners dominated the game, picking up 11 of the 15 wickets that fell. The third and final ODI will be played at the same venue on January 27.

England have named their playing XI for the first ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, starting on January 22. The match will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This venue will also host matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 next month.

England have recalled opener Zak Crawley after 776 days. He last played an ODI for England in December 2023. Crawley has played only eight ODIs so far. He has scored 199 runs with an average of 28.42 and has two half-centuries. Notably, Crawley has also played for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, representing the franchise during the tournament.

After a disappointing Ashes series against Australia, which ended in a 4–1 loss, the team will look for a fresh start. The ODI series against Sri Lanka marks the beginning of their white-ball tour away from home. Harry Brook will lead the side as captain in this series.

Although this is an ODI series, England are also preparing for the T20 World Cup, which starts on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. This series will help the team adjust to Sri Lankan conditions. They may play their Super Six matches in Sri Lanka later in the tournament. In the league stage, England will play two matches each in Mumbai and Kolkata.

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Opening pair retained despite poor Ashes form

The opening pair of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley has been kept for the ODI series, even though they struggled badly in the Ashes. The team management has shown faith in the duo and given them another chance at the top of the order.

Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, and captain Harry Brook will bat in the middle order. Former captain Jos Buttler will bat at number six and will also keep wickets. Will Jacks and Sam Curran have been picked as the all-rounders in the side.

England have named their XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka tomorrow in Colombo 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Zak Crawley returns to the ODI side for the first time since December 2023, while Liam Dawson is the second spinner to support Adil Rashid pic.twitter.com/p5nWebXzYn

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 21, 2026

Strong spin attack included in the playing XI

Jamie Overton is the only other fast bowler in the team. The spin department looks strong, with Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid named as the two specialist spinners for the match.

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Playing XI of England:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid

Sri Lanka ODI squad:

Charith Asalanka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pavan Rathnayake, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Eshan Malinga

At the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare, England locked horns with Pakistan during the fourth clash of the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026. The started their campaign with a convincing yet dramatic 37-run victory over the opposition as the Pakistan batter’s brianfade moment goes viral around the social media platforms. 

The contest was not a straightforward one as it ended in a bizarre moment that quickly became the talking point of the competition. On the third ball of the 47th over, Momin Qamar got a single to reach the other end, but that was when his partner, Ali Raza, wanted to come back for a second.

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It was such a silly play from R as he would be wishing that the ground opens up and he could hide his face inside it. He wanted the throw to come to his way and miss the wicket keeper which would actually open the chance for his double but he did not realize that he was out of his crease which allowed the ball to go through the wicket-keeper.

Ali Raza's brianfade moment in U-19 World Cup 2026 goes viral 

England’s wicket keeper, Thomas Rew, was well aware of moment as he took the bails off by the time Raza made his way inside the crease as no one could imagine what happened in that moment. Raza would have taken a massive spray from the coaches in the dug-out.

Watch the video here: 

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Earlier in the game, England were bundled out for 210 runs in the first innings with their middle order batter, Caleb Falconer, putting a decent knock of 66-run thanks to his three boundaries and two sixes with BJ Dawkins putting up 33 runs while opening the batting.

In reply Pakistan got bundled for 173 as none of the batters could cross the 20-run mark apart from their captain, Farhan Yousaf, who clubbed 65 runs, with the help of three boundaries and four sixes, which saw them losing the contest by 37 runs.

Brief Scores: England U19 210 (Caleb Falconer 66, BJ Dawkins 33, Ahmed Hussain 3/38) beat Pakistan U19 173 (Farhan Yousuf 65, James Minto 2/23) by 37 runs.

England captain Ben Stokes’ dream of winning an Ashes Down Under against Australia vanished as the visitors claimed a 4-1 Series defeat, including the loss in the 5th Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). More than their skills and abilities in the field, questions were raised about England’s behavior between games against Australia, which came under scrutiny on several occasions.

Many things were brushed under the carpet when the team was winning; players are expected to bear the brunt of their lack of fight in Australia. The reports of The Telegraph have claimed that England opted to stay at Crown Towers, a Casino Complex, despite not playing a warm-up against Australia, and decided to have an Inter squad game ahead of the opening Perth Test.

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There is a point in England’s premier pacer, Brydon Carse, who ended up as the highest wicket taker on the trip, accidentally lost thousands of dollars in cash before the money was given back to him by an England Cricket Journalist.

England players' drunken and Casino story drops shocker

Reports also that the England cricketer stayed up after hours to watch the Premier League football in one of the places that was open till late. England players’ behavior was under the scanner even before the captain, Ben Stokes, landed in Australia as the white ball captain, Harry Brook, had a drunken escapade where he was punched by a bouncer after an argument, and Silk reported the accident before being let off with a warning in addition to £30,000 worth of fine.

After a defeat at the Gabba during the second game of the series under lights, the team had a 4-day Noosa trip, a resort town on the outskirts of Queensland, where a video of Ben Duckett being drunk when violent social media saw other players also being spotted drinking and partying during the trip.

The Director of Cricket of the England Cricket Board. Rob Key was not pleased with the players at a launch stand investigation into the allegations of excessive drinking, as the investigation started only after Australia took an unbeatable lead of 3-zero into the series.

England’s white-ball captain, Harry Brook, was involved in an altercation with a bouncer in New Zealand ahead of the Ashes 2025/26, a matter of hours before he captained the final clash of their limited-overs series. The incident is reported by The Telegraph and took place on October 31, the day before their third ODI contest in Wellington.

An investigation saw the Yorkshire batter getting fined around 30000 pounds by the ECB, although he was retained in the leadership position. Harry Brook returned home as the Ashes concluded with a five-wicket defeat in Sydney, which brought the scoreline to 4-1. He will fly to Sri Lanka after a 10-day break.

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“I want to apologise for my actions. I fully accept that my behaviour was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team. Representing England is the greatest honour of all, which I take seriously, and I am deeply sorry for letting down my teammates, coaches, and supporters. I have reflected on the lessons it has taught me about responsibility, professionalism, and the standards.” Brook expressed in a statement released by the ECB.

Harry Brook penalized for disciplinary action over clash with bouncer

England went on to lose that third ODI by two wickets, as the home side claimed the series by a 3-0 margin. They, then, lose the Ashes, having relinquished a shot at reclaiming the urn inside 11 days. Brook finished as their second-leading run-getter with 358 runs, averaging 39.77.

“We are aware of this incident, and it has been dealt with through a formal and confidential ECB disciplinary process. The player involved has apologised and acknowledged their conduct fell below expectations on this occasion.” The spokesperson of the England Cricket Board (ECB) addressed.

“We've had four years where we've had none of these issues, really, with any of the players. And there's a whole process that we put in place for stuff like that for what you do if they're out of line. And I didn't feel like that was worthy of formal warnings. But it was probably worthy of informal ones.” ECB’s managing director, Rob Key, shed light on Ben Duckett’s drunk video. 

England team head coach Brendon McCullum was unexpectedly at the focal point on Day 1 of the fifth and final test match of the Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Cameras caught him cheekily checking the answers to a crossword puzzle in the dressing room, creating a lighthearted moment in an otherwise tense Test match.

The funny incident happened during the 39th over of England’s innings. After a shaky start that saw England lose three early wickets for 57 runs, Joe Root and Harry Brook were rebuilding the innings at the crease. Off the field, McCullum looked relaxed as he flipped through his crossword booklet before sneaking a look at the answer page.

Commentators were quick to notice the moment on live television and could not resist a joke. One quipped that McCullum should be careful about checking answers on national TV. The clip quickly spread on social media, with fans sharing memes and poking fun at the England coach in good spirit.

Rain Interrupts Play as Root and Brook Anchor England’s Innings

Finally, despite the early setbacks, England showed some control with the bat. Root and Brook looked calm and confident, dealing effortlessly with the Australian bowlers. At Tea, England managed to get 211/3, the pair stitching an undefeated 154-run partnership that gave the visitors much-needed stability.

Watch the video here

Brendon McCullum is looking for the answers while doing a crossword puzzle.😂😄

(🎥- 7Cricket) pic.twitter.com/VitDDR3Qo7

— Cricket Sangrah (@CricketSangrah) January 4, 2026

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Just as England started to build momentum, the weather intervened. Poor light forced the umpires to monitor conditions late in the session, which led to an early Tea break at the ground. Soon after, rain arrived and play was stopped completely.

Although the grounds staff worked hard to get the game going again, conditions did not improve. No further play was possible after Tea, and Day 1 ended early. Even so, England will take confidence from the strong partnership, finding some solid answers on the field in a series where consistency has been hard to come by.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has named a 12-man squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia. The match will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground and will begin on Sunday, 4 January. England head into the last game looking to finish the long tour on a positive note.

After a demanding series, England will aim to carry forward the confidence gained from their win in Melbourne. Although the visitors are trailing in the series, the recent victory has lifted spirits within the camp. The final Test gives England a chance to show fight and consistency.

The selectors have made a few changes to strengthen the squad for Sydney conditions. With the pitch often offering help to both seamers and spinners, England have focused on adding balance and depth to their bowling attack.

Fresh faces and injury update for Sydney Test

Spinner Shoaib Bashir and fast bowler Matthew Potts are the two additions to the squad. Their inclusion gives England more bowling options as they prepare for the final challenge of the tour. The team management will assess conditions before deciding the final playing XI.

Bashir has finally earned his opportunity after waiting patiently throughout the series. However, he has not played in any test match until now but is still involved in practice matches and A-team matches. His performance in the background kept him in contention for a late call-up to the team. Potts is also included in the team and is his first selection in 2024. The right-arm seamer has played 10 Tests and taken 36 wickets, and his experience could prove useful in Sydney. Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson misses out after suffering a left hamstring injury during the Melbourne Test, which ruled him out of the remainder of the tour.

England, led by Ben Stokes, currently trails the Ashes series 3–1. After losses in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, the win at Melbourne brought renewed belief. The Sydney Test now offers England one final chance to end the tour with momentum and pride.

England squad for fifth Ashes Test

Ben Stokes (Captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (WK), Josh Tongue.

Former England cricketer Isa Guha has been honored with an MBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours list for her services to inclusivity and cricket. Guha made history as the first woman of South Asian descent to represent England in any sport. An MBE stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire and is a prestigious award presented to people by the British monarch as a way of appreciating them for the valuable services they have contributed to society. It is announced twice a year: the King's New Year Honours and the King's Birthday Honours. MBE provides rewards for contributions to sport, arts, charity, education, and public services.

A two-time World Cup winner, Guha enjoyed a successful international career for England, where she played eight women's Tests, 83 ODIs, and 22 T20Is, picking up a total of 148 wickets with her energetic medium pace. She was thus one of the most important factors in England's golden era in women's cricket.

Guha retired from international cricket on March 9, 2012, at the age of just 26. Interestingly, her retirement came on the same day as former India captain Rahul Dravid stepped away from international cricket. She chose to move on early to explore life beyond the playing field.

From World Cups to Commentary and Leadership Roles

Before retiring, Guha played a key role in England’s success at the highest level. She was part of the teams that won both the 50-over World Cup and the T20 World Cup in 2009. She also featured in England’s Women’s Ashes victories in 2005 and 2007–08, with her best performance coming at Bowral, where she returned match figures of 9 for 100.

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After ending her playing career, Guha moved into cricket commentary with ease. Like former players Anjum Chopra and Lisa Sthalekar, she built a strong presence in broadcasting. Her career took a major step forward in 2014 when she became the first female summarizer on BBC Test Match Special and later covered major tournaments, including the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

In 2017, Guha achieved another milestone by becoming the first woman appointed as a non-executive director on the board of the Professional Cricketers' Association. Away from broadcasting, she founded the charity Take Her Lead to encourage more women and girls to take up cricket. Born in London to parents who migrated from Kolkata, she remains connected to her roots and, in 2018, married musician Richard Thomas of the band Brother & Bones.

Jofra Archer, who has been ruled out of the ongoing Ashes 2025/26, has been named in the provisional squad of the England side for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. He has been nursing a left side strain that ruled him out of the series. The 15-member squad includes Josh Tongue, uncapped in the limited-overs cricket under Harry Brook’s leadership.

Head coach Brendon McCullum and Brook expect Tongue to be a strike bowler on the flatter pitches of India and Sri Lanka. Jamie Smith has been axed from the limited-overs, while Ben Duckett returns to the squad after being away from the New Zealand trip ahead of the Australia series.

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Archer is recovering in Barbados under the supervision of the ECB’s medical team and will miss the three ODIs and three T20Is in Sri Lanka, which begins on January 22, with Brydon Carse staying on after the 50-over games to fill in. He is expected to join the squad in India ahead of the Group C match against Nepal in Mumbai.

England announce T20 World Cup 2026 squad

After the opening game against Nepal, England will lock horns with West Indies in Mumbai on February 11 before they take on Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens, which will also host their last group-stage clash against Italy on February 16. 

Tongue has been an interesting choice in the squad. He, however, was the leading wicket-taker in this year’s Men’s The Hundred competition with 14 wickets and has impressed in the two Ashes with 12 at 18.58, which includes his match-winning 5/45 at the MCG, as part of the match figures of 7/89.

England, who lifted the title in 2022 under Jos Buttler’s captaincy, finished as the semi-finalists in the last season, where they lost the clash against India. They previously won the event in 2010 and 2022.

England’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.