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Sri Lanka win the toss and choose to bowl first
It’s a beautiful late summer evening at the Utilita and the coin falls the way of Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka. He decides to chase, in modern parlance. Harry Brook then says he would have batted first anyway, so there.
Who is Aneurin Donald and why is he playing for England? This video explainer from Yas Rana has got you covered.
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England have announced their XI already.
They are without Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran for fitness reasons and Jofra Archer is rested after the Test summer. Brydon Carse is on the naughty step for the forseeable.
In their absence, Jordan Cox plays his first T20I since October 2025 and Aneurin Donald – the Glamorgan raised Derbyshire batter who scored 31 off eight balls for the Lions against Sri Lanka last week – will make his debut as opener.
“He’s a cricketer who has been on our radar for a long time,” McCullum said of Donald in the pre game presser. “He’s got a game where he can go from ball one. He’s got raw power, an incredible amount of talent.”
England XI
Aneurin Donald, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid
Preamble
You thought the International cricketing summer was over eh? Not a chance. Fling off that chunky fisherman knitted pullover, step away from the soup pan and cease and desist spinning the Nick Drake vinyl. Autumn isn’t quite upon us yet.
Hello and welcome the first T20I between England and Sri Lanka from Southampton. Six whiteball matches inside the next two weeks means Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum can resume their whiteball bromance. There is even a third bro invited into the mix for the next year, just to keep things spicy, doubt you’ll have heard of him though…
Play starts on the south coast at 6.30pm. Drop me a line if you are tuning in. Let’s get into it.
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