Sat Jan 24 09:20:00 UTC 2026: # England Shuffles Lineup After First ODI Loss Against Sri Lanka
The Story:
Following a defeat in the first One Day International (ODI), England has made one change to its playing XI for the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Saturday, January 24. Opener Jack Crawley is sidelined due to injury, paving the way for Will Jacks to join the team after recovering from illness. In a surprising move, Rehan Ahmed, a leg-spinner with a less-than-stellar List A cricket record, will open the innings alongside Ben Duckett. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl, keeping their playing XI unchanged.
Key Points:
- England made one change to their playing XI due to Jack Crawley’s injury.
- Will Jacks replaces Crawley in the squad.
- Rehan Ahmed, a leg-spinner, will open the innings for England.
- Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl.
- Sri Lanka retained the same playing XI.
Key Takeaways:
- England is experimenting with their batting order, potentially due to the first ODI loss and Crawley’s injury.
- The decision to have Rehan Ahmed open the innings is a gamble given his limited batting record in List A and ODI cricket.
- Sri Lanka is confident in their current team composition, opting to stick with the same XI.
- Adaptability to the conditions is crucial, as highlighted by England captain Brook.
First Piper 