Sri Lanka will face England in the first T20I of the England tour of Sri Lanka 2026, which will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Sri Lanka's start to the ODI series was strong with a win, but they soon lost their rhythm and lost the next two matches. England bounced back well after the loss in the 1st ODI and won the series by 1-2.  

Skipper Harry Brook managed to score 136 runs in the previous game with only 66 deliveries. Adil Rashid was the top wicket-taker in the series, taking 7 wickets in three games. England will have high hopes for both to continue their red-hot form. Sri Lanka has included Pavan Rathnayake in their T20I squad because he scored 121 runs off 115 balls in the third ODI against England.

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SL vs ENG Match Details

• Match: Sri Lanka vs England, 1st T20I 

• Date: 30th January 2026

• Time: 7.00 PM IST

• Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

• Live Streaming: FanCode

SL vs ENG Weather Report

Pitch Report - Pallekele International Cricket Stadium

The pitches at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium are generally good for batting. The surfaces here are not as rough and rough as other venues in the country. 

Top Batters to Watch – SL vs ENG

• Harry Brook (ENG): 184 runs in this Series 

• Pavan Rathnayake (SL): 162 runs in this Series

• Kusal Mendis (SL): 139 runs in this Series 

Top Bowlers to Watch – SL vs ENG

• Adil Rashid (ENG): 7 wickets in Series

• Liam Dawson (ENG): 5 wickets in Series

• Dhananjaya de Silva (SL): 4 wickets in Series 

SL vs ENG Recent Form

SL vs ENG Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If SL Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–50

• Predicted Total: 150-160

• Match Result: ENG to win

Scenario 2: If ENG Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 50–60

• Predicted Total: 165–180

• Match Result: ENG to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

SL vs ENG Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera.

England 

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (captain), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

SL vs ENG Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

According to our SL vs ENG today match prediction, England are the favourites to win the 1st T20I match. The likes of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook will be key players to watch out for.

SL vs ENG Match FAQs

Australia concluded an overwhelming series performance against England in the Fifth Test with a 5-wicket success which sealed the Ashes 4-1 for Australia as they maintained ownership of the Urn. The match served as an appropriate conclusion to a hard-fought summer filled with individual brilliance, long batting marathons, and decisive bowling success. England began strongly by winning the toss and choosing to bat; however, the English cricket team could not keep pace with the overall depth and stability shown by Australia across all disciplines.

The England first innings was anchored by a superb innings of 160 by Joe Root, who weathered a fair number of collapses in England's batting order. Harry Brook added an impressive contribution with his aggressive 84 which took England to a very respectable 384; however, the Australian bowlers shared the shared the workload evenly with Michael Neser collecting 4 wickets and Mitchell Starc striking at critical phases. Despite Root's valiant effort there was no way for England to build on their platform to attain a commanding total on a surface that became increasingly batting-friendly.

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In its first innings, Australia immediately responded with an incredible 567, establishing control of the match. Travis Head was unstoppable, scoring 163 at just shy of one run per ball with his aggressive batting, while Steven Smith displayed expert levels of patience and precision in his craftsmanship by scoring 138 runs. Additional substantial scores from Marnus Labuschagne and Beau Webster added further pressure to England's already long task of bowling for prolonged stretches. By the time Australia had finalized its innings, it had amassed a significant lead that left England under immense pressure to perform.

Bethell’s Grit and Australia’s Composure

However, England displayed strong fight during its second innings with a remarkable innings of 154 from Jacob Bethell. Batting for more than four hours and demonstrating high levels of composure and endurance, Bethell formed several partnerships that allowed England to maintain a slim chance. Nevertheless, the disciplined accuracy of Scott Boland and the extreme pace of Mitchell Starc produced continued breakthroughs preventing England from building an insurmountable target. England was eventually bowled out for 342, leaving Australia a target of 160 runs to win the match.

Although Australia lost two early wickets during the last day of the Ashes, they showed tremendous quality by making it through with relative ease as Alex Carey and Cameron Green kept them going without being dismissed. Their calmness proved how much depth, consistency and confidence this team has, even in pressure situations. Travis Head received deserved accolades for being the Player-of-the-Match for his great first innings batting performance, while Mitchell Starc took home the Player-of-the-Series award. With this victory, Australia became the undisputed champion of the 2025-26 Ashes series by their undeniable strength and success.

England has faced a hard Ashes series, but at the Sydney Cricket Ground a new chapter was opened as Jacob Bethell presented himself on the largest stage with a spectacular maiden Test century against Australia.

Batting on the fourth day of the last and fifth Ashes Test at the SCG, the 22-year-old left hander impressed with an innings that showed his patience, dynamism and incredible maturity. Coming in early when England lost Zak Crawley cheaply, Bethell found himself immediately under pressure. Yet, what happened next was a classic demonstration of hard work.

A coming-of-age knock on the grandest stage

Bethell hit his hundred with a beautiful four from Beau Webster, shimmying down the track and hitting the ball over mid-on as the crowd went wild. He marked the occasion by taking off his helmet, acknowledging the crowds, and pointing his bat to his family - a moment which could not have expressed better the feeling of the occasion. It is important to point out that this was not only his first Test century but also his first-ever first-class century, thus making the knock even more special.

Ex-players and spectators unanimously commended Bethell's character. Instead of going for milestones, he simply let the tension simmer; his on-field presence got tested by seven fiery balls at 99 before he finally passed the mark. After facing 162 balls, he reached the three figures with shots like clear drives, bold cuts, and sound decision-making against the top-notch Australian bowlers.

Watch the video:

A maiden Test century for Jacob Bethell! What a way to do it 🤩#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/lXSUViEVrR

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 7, 2026

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In a contest wherein England quite frequently seemed to be at their wit's end, Bethell's straight drive was a signal of the new generation. Not only did it save England from the imminent danger of an innings defeat but also forced Australia to take on the challenge of batting in the next innings, thus, creating an interesting last chapter of the Test. For England, the Ashes may be gone, but at the SCG, a star was unmistakably born.

Maiden first-class hundreds by England players in Test cricket

England’s young batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell believes his brief but intense exposure to the Indian Premier League played a key role in helping him handle the pressure of an Ashes debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of the most intimidating venues in world cricket.

IPL experience proves crucial in preparing Bethell for Ashes debut pressure

The 22-year-old was drafted into England’s XI for the Boxing Day Test, replacing Ollie Pope at No.3, and responded with a composed knock of 40 as England chased down 175 to secure a memorable four-wicket win. The victory ended England’s long wait for a Test win in Australia and snapped an 18-match winless run Down Under.

Bethell admitted the occasion initially got to him, but said his stint with Indian Premier League helped him stay calm when it mattered most. Having featured in two matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during their title-winning 2025 campaign, Bethell said the atmosphere in India offered an unexpected rehearsal for the Ashes spotlight.

“I was pretty nervous - not so much with the people, just the occasion,” Bethell said. “But I’ve played in India where it feels like there’s 160,000 watching. Playing in front of 50,000 at the Chinnaswamy, which felt like 100,000, definitely gave me more confidence coming into this game.”

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Calm under pressure strengthens Bethell’s case as England’s long-term No.3

Walking out to bat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with England still needing over 100 runs, Bethell showed maturity beyond his years. His timely boundaries eased the pressure and steadied a chase that could easily have slipped away on a challenging surface.

While his first-innings dismissal was forgettable, Bethell’s second-innings contribution offered a glimpse of why England see him as a long-term option at No.3. He described the role as a “double-edged sword”, demanding both survival and intent, but one he is keen to make his own.

For now, Bethell isn’t chasing labels or guarantees. His focus is simple: contribute, learn, and stay in the XI. And if handling a roaring Chinnaswamy crowd helped him breathe easier in Melbourne, England may have the IPL to thank for a calm head on the Ashes stage.

As the visitors England have already lost the Ashes 2025-26, where the hosts Australia are leading the five-match series by 3-0 with two to go, England made two changes in the playing XI for the upcoming fourth Test, the Boxing Day Test  at Melbourne. 

England have completely failed in the Ashes 2025-26, while they had the expectation to produce one of their best performances on Australian soil. After losing the first two Tests by eight wickets each, they suffered an 82-run defeat in their last Test. Although they had some momentum on this tour, their indisciplined performances affected them hugely. 

It is time for some redemption despite already losing the series. While a 4-0 or 5-0 series status will make them really poor, England are desperate to find a better status by producing some quality performances in the last two Tests on the tour. 

The Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne is ready for the 2025 Boxing Day Test. While the match will begin on December 26, Boxing Day, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the squad for the upcoming Melbourne Test on December 24.

England's change for Melbourne Test: Gus Atkinson replaced injured Jofra Archer

There are two changes for England for the upcoming Boxing Day Test, including one forced change. While Jofra Archer has been ruled out from remainder of the tour due to a left side strain, Gus Atkinson is set to replace Archer. Atkinson was dropped from the third Test at Adelaide due to mostly ineffective performances in the first two Tests of this tour. While he remained wicketless in the series opener at Perth, he got three wickets in the day/night pink-ball Test at Brisbane. 

See Also: ECB to investigate England team’s Noosa break ahead of 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test

England's change for Melbourne Test: Jacob Bethell replaced out of form Ollie Pope

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Jacob Bethell is set to replace the no.3 batter Ollie Pope. In this tour, Pope's scores were 46, 33, 0, 26, 3, and 17 runs, respectively. 

The batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell has played four Tests, where he has scored 271 runs with an average of 38.71, including three half-centuries, and also picked up three wickets. During India's tour of England in 2025, Bethell featured in the last Test, which was his only Test this year before the forthcoming Boxing Day Test. 

England's playing XI for the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes 2025-26

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (Captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue. 

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has shared the revised list of Central Contracts for England Men's International Cricket for the 2025-26 season. A total of 30 players will be provided contracts, 14 two-year central contracts, 12 annual central contracts, and four development contracts. The new contracts will support greater stability for players while also recognizing their performance levels and managing players across formats.

Among the list, Sonny Baker, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, and Luke Wood have received England Central Contracts for the first time. Meanwhile, Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes, and Mitchell Stanley have signed England Development Contracts for the first time, joining Josh Hull, who continues in the same category.

The ECB stated that the Central Contract system covers both red-ball and white-ball cricket, factoring in each player’s likelihood of featuring for England across formats in the coming period, while also recognizing consistent performances over the past year.

Rob Key on the Updated Contract Structure

“This year’s central contract group reflects the depth and strength of talent we have across England Men’s cricket. We have awarded two-year deals to our multi-format players so we can manage their workloads responsibly and give them the stability they need to perform across formats,” said Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, as quoted by the ECB.

He further added, “We have also secured a number of white-ball players on longer agreements to help us plan effectively around the growing franchise calendar and ensure England remains their priority. This structure allows us to support our players properly while maintaining strong squads across all formats as much as possible.”

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England Two-Year Central Contracts (30 September 2027)

Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes, Josh Tongue

England One-Year Central Contracts (30 September 2026)

Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker*, Shoaib Bashir, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson*, Saqib Mahmood*, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Phil Salt, Mark Wood, Luke Wood

England Development Contracts

Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes, Mitchell Stanley

Ireland (IRE) will take on England (ENG) in the opening T20I of the three-match series at The Village in Dublin on Wednesday, September 17. The hosts come into the contest after a tough home series against the West Indies, where they faced a 0-1 defeat. Determined to bounce back, Ireland will aim to put in a stronger performance this time. With the home advantage in their favor, the team will rely on its players’ skills and resilience to challenge England in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

On the other hand, England enter the series in positive spirits after drawing their recent T20I battle against South Africa. Under Jacob Bethell’s leadership, the side has shown consistency and balance, which will be vital in this contest. Despite being aware of the tricky conditions in Dublin, the visitors possess enough depth and talent to adapt effectively. England will be eager to start the series on a strong note and set the tone for the remaining games.

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England vs Ireland, 1st T20I: Live Streaming Details

England vs Ireland, 1st T20I: Probable Playing XI

Ireland (Probable Playing XI):

Paul Stirling(c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(w), Ben Calitz, George Dockrell, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Benjamin White, Jordan Neil, Craig Young

England (Probable Playing XI):

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell (C), Tom Banton, Jamie Overton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood

Jacob Bethell will make history this week when, at age 21, he becomes England's youngest-ever captain. The left-handed batter, who made his international debut just a year ago, will take charge of England's T20 series against Ireland in Malahide. His rise has been fast and astonishing, accumulating 34 caps, nine fifties, and a maiden hundred since he took the international stage in 2023 against Australia.

Bethell admitted to "being very nervous" on his debut, although now he is stirring up that challenge with a smile on his face by saying he is someone who loves the game when it's played at pace. His captaincy experience is limited, however: he played a handful of matches when he was captain of England Under-19s, he captained at schoolboy level, and spent some time captaining Warwickshire's seconds. The management of England views Bethell as a future superstar.

Bethell takes charge as England’s youngest captain against Ireland.

The decision was influenced by circumstance, too. Their regular captain, Harry Brook, and the senior multi-format players have all been rested for the tour, whilst Jos Buttler is being eased out rather than handed the captaincy for what will be a short transitional series. Bethell does not know if he will take charge of the team, but he learned he was captain, having been told by Brendon McCullum a month ago. His first reaction was pride mixed with excitement and nerves.

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Paul Stirling, his Irish counterpart, commended Bethell, reminiscing about when they were together at Warwickshire. "You could see the talent when he was 18. The way he was striking the ball, he was top class," Stirling said, admitting he was not surprised to see Bethell in a captaincy role. 

England’s youngest captains in men’s internationals

Recent performances have only confirmed the decision. Bethell scored his first century against South Africa just over a week ago, which gave him the confidence that filled many hearts and stilled any Dutton resident's previous thoughts of scepticism about him being promoted. "When you feel that kind of feeling you have by yourself, it's pretty addictive... I really think it has helped me stand up for myself in high-pressure situations," he said. 

A dose of inspiration has come into his thinking from Ben Stokes when Bethell expressed he is planning to captain by example, but is focused on "managing people" and "supporting" his teammates. With interim head coach Marcus Trescothick in charge, Bethell hopes not to be tactical in a decision-making stand-first, instead finding the balance in order to build trust with the players.

As England prepares to face Ireland, Bethell's leadership represents not only his own remarkable route but also possibly a glimpse into the future of English cricket. Few do not think it will be his "last" role as captain. In fact, for Bethell, it may just be the beginning.

England (ENG) and South Africa (SA) are all set to renew their rivalry in the first T20I of the three-match series, starting Wednesday, September 10, at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. The two sides recently battled in a hard-fought ODI series, where South Africa emerged victorious with a 2-1 triumph. With the limited-overs momentum on their side, the visitors will aim to continue their dominance, while the hosts will be determined to bounce back strongly in the shortest format in front of their home fans.

England will take confidence from their previous T20I series at home, where they registered a commanding 3-0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka. The Jos Buttler-led side boasts plenty of firepower in both batting and bowling departments and will be eager to kick-start the series with a win. On the other hand, South Africa arrive in Cardiff after losing their recent T20I series against Australia 2-1 and will hope to rectify their mistakes.

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South Africa vs England, 1st T20I: Live Streaming Details

South Africa vs England, 1st T20I: Probable Playing XI

England (Probable Playing XI):

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (Captain), Sam Curran, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

South Africa (Probable Playing XI):

Aiden Markram(c), Ryan Rickelton(w), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi

England wrapped up that three-match ODI series against South Africa in a really big way. They got this huge 342-run win at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Sunday. It was kind of historic, you know. Even though they had already lost the series after dropping the first two games. Jos Buttler's team put on a show in the last one. Like, a performance for the ages, basically.

They batted first and just piled on the runs. Ended up with 414 for 5 in 50 overs. That was massive. Jacob Bethell scored a century, 110 runs. Joe Root got 100 too. Those two put together this solid partnership. Left the South African bowlers scratching their heads, no real answers there. Then the middle order came in and finished it off strong. Pushed the total over 400, you know.

Archer leads the charge as England rewrite ODI record books

South Africa had to chase that big number. People figured they'd fight back some, since they batted pretty well in the earlier matches. But nope. Jofra Archer came in hot with his bowling. Fiery spell that blew them away. He took 4 for 18. Dismantled their top order with all that pace and precision. Adil Rashid chipped in with 3 wickets as a spinner. Brydon Carse got 2 with his pace. They all supported each other well. South Africa just crumbled. All out for 72 in only 20.5 overs.

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England's 342-run win put their name in the history books. It beats everything before in ODIs by runs. They topped India's big 317-run beatdown of Sri Lanka back in 2023. Thing is, no team's ever done better than 340 runs since one-day cricket started in 1971.

South Africa got hit hard here. This loss tops their worst ever in ODIs. It went past that 276-run thrashing from Australia earlier this year. Their batsmen fell apart quick too. That innings lasted only 24.5 overs. Second shortest in ODI records.

Archer got the Player of the Match nod, and he earned it with that killer spell. He talked about it after. He said, "Even before I bowled a ball, I knew it was going to be difficult for them since we scored over 300. I just tried to hit the pitch hard and keep it straight. Playing three games in a row means a lot to me."

England lost the series 2-1 overall. But this massive win in Southampton, you know, it's going to stick in people's minds as a real landmark in ODI cricket.