Key events
There’s an international debut for the legspinner Sachindu Colombage. Some ask to come in and bowl at that England middle order. I’m fascinated to see how Rehan Ahmed, carded at six, goes; he’s in because Adil Rashid has an issue with his bowling hand.
The teams
England: Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Sachindu Colombage, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
England win the toss and choose to bat first
Wood is part of Sky’s commentary team for this game, and he’s joined by his former captain Eoin Morgan. They take in the toss … which is won by Harry Brook. England will have a hit.
Mark Wood retires from international cricket
The big news this morning is that Mark Wood has called it a day at the highest level. Go to his Cricinfo profile and the numbers won’t jump out … but that doesn’t tell his story. You’re better off heading to YouTube to watch that spell at Headingley or the one in St Lucia, bowling at absurd pace. The body, inevitably, suffered. He took 18 wickets when England won the 2019 World Cup and nine at 12 when they won the T20 equivalent in 2022. He won the Ashes at home and, while things didn’t work out for the collective, he thrived in Australia, too. Some career.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the last series of the English summer, stretching its way right until the close of September. It’s back to 50-over cricket, the forgotten child, with Sri Lanka hoping that the longer form gives them more of a chance; the T20 series was a miserable affair for the visitors, with defeats by 119 runs, six wickets (47 balls to spare) and eight wickets (62 balls).
After a few lean years in the ODI game, England have won their last two series, away to Sri Lanka at the start of the year and then at home against India. Brendon McCullum has lost the Test job but his white-ball group have had a pretty impressive 2026. It would be quite the splash if Kusal Mendis’ side halt the streak here. We get going in Durham at 12.30pm BST.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/22/england-v-sri-lanka-first-one-day-cricket-international-live-score-updates
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