England have announced their playing XI for the first T20I against Sri Lanka on Friday, with Jofra Archer returning to the side after recovering from injury. The 30-year-old fast bowler had missed the final two Tests of England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat due to a side strain and was not originally included in the squad for the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka.
Archer was initially expected to make his comeback at the T20 World Cup, which starts for England against Nepal on February 8. However, he has been fast-tracked into the Sri Lanka series and will feature straight away in the series opener in Kandy. He joins Jamie Overton and Sam Curran as England’s pace-bowling options, complementing a lineup that continues to rely heavily on spin.
Ben Duckett, meanwhile, misses out on the first T20I after sustaining a bruised right index finger during England’s series-clinching win in the third ODI in Colombo on Tuesday. Duckett, who has not played T20 cricket for England since last summer’s series against the West Indies, injured himself while taking a catch in the deep.
Jos Buttler is set to open the batting, marking his record-equalling 401st appearance in an England shirt, while Tom Banton is slated to bat at number four. England will be hoping their mix of pace and spin, bolstered by Archer’s return, gives them the edge in the opening match of the series against a strong Sri Lankan side.
“We have a good record over the last couple of years and we need to carry that momentum into the World Cup. The key for us is a series win here. Any series win away from home is valuable and we are really looking forward to the first game,” said Salt.
“The middle order is never the easiest place to bat, but we have versatile guys with very high strike rates who can take the game away from the opposition. If you look at someone like Harry Brook, he showed everyone what he’s capable of in the last game,” he added.
England XI for first T20I vs Sri Lanka:
Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (captain), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
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