Jofra Archer has been named in England’s team to face Sri Lanka in the first
T20 on Friday after recovering from injury.
The 30-year-old fast bowler missed the final two Tests of England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat after sustaining a side strain and was not initially named in the squad for the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka.
He was expected to make his return at the T20 World Cup, which begins for England against Nepal on February 8, but Archer has made a faster than expected return and goes straight into the line-up for the series-opener in Kandy.
Archer joins Jamie Overton and Sam Curran as seam-bowling options, with England again leaning on a battery of spin options.
Ben Duckett misses out on the first T20 after sustaining a bruised right index finger during the series-clinching victory in the third ODI in Colombo on Tuesday.
Archer missed the last two Tests of the Ashes series.
Duckett, who has not played a T20 for England since the series against the West Indies last summer, suffered the injury taking a catch in the deep.
Jos Buttler will open the batting on his record-equalling 401st appearance in an England shirt, with Tom Banton slated to bat at number four.
Full team
England team to face Sri Lanka in Kandy: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (captain), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
England in Sri Lanka – results and fixtures
All times UK and Ireland
Follow live text commentary of England’s three-match T20 series in Sri Lanka on the Sky Sports app, starting with the opening game on Friday (from 1.30pm UK). Then watch the T20 World Cup live in full on Sky Sports from February 7, with England’s first fixture against Nepal in Kolkata on Sunday February 8 (9.30am UK).
