England begin their three match ODI series against Sri Lanka on January 22, with the opening game set to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Harry Brook continues as captain, leading a squad that blends youth and experience, including Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid. Sri Lanka will look to make home conditions count, while England aim to start the tour strongly and build momentum early in the series.
Here's TSN's predictions, lineups, betting tips, odds, and live scorecard for the ODI opener.
Sri Lanka vs. England: Who Will Win?
England are expected to come out on top in this match despite recent setbacks, with their batting depth and overall quality giving them an edge over Sri Lanka. If they apply themselves better away from home and manage the conditions smartly, England can secure a much-needed win.
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Head-to-head record: Sri Lanka vs. England in ODIs
Sri Lanka andEngland have faced each other 79 times in one day internationals. England lead the rivalry with 38 wins and Sri Lanka is just behind them with 37 wins.
- Total matches: 79
- Sri Lanka wins: 37
- England wins: 38
- Tied/No result: 4
Sri Lanka vs. England Form Guide & Predictions
Sri Lanka enter the series with a tough 0-3 loss to Pakistan away in Nov 2025, but they are much stronger at home especially in Colombo with solid recent home wins against Zimbabwe. Charith Asalanka leads a familiar core, including spin options like Hasaranga and Theekshana.
England starts this series on the back of a disappointing 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia (late 2025 - early 2026), where they managed only one win and suffered heavy losses overall. Their recent ODI form remains poor, with a 0-3 whitewash by New Zealand in late 2025. White-ball struggles continue, low confidence, but Harry Brook's side features a spin-heavy attack suited to subcontinent conditions.
Sri Lanka – Last 5 ODIs
- Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets (Rawalpindi)
- Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets (Rawalpindi)
- Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 6 runs (Rawalpindi)
- Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets (Harare)
- Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 7 runs (Harare)
England – Last 5 ODIs
- New Zealand beat England by 2 wickets (Wellington)
- New Zealand beat England by 5 wickets (Hamilton)
- New Zealand beat England by 4 wickets (Mount Maunganui)
- England beat South Africa by 342 runs (Southampton)
- South Africa beat England by 5 runs (Lord’s)
AllSportsPeople Prediction for SL vs. ENG 1st ODI
- If Sri Lanka bat first: 250 to 290
- If England bat first: 270 to 310
Expected Result: England hold a slight edge on paper due to batting depth, but Sri Lanka’s recent ability to manage pressure situations keeps this finely balanced.
Home or spin-friendly conditions could tilt the contest in Sri Lanka’s favour, while England will need a strong top-order display to control the game.
Sri Lanka vs. England lineups: Starting XIs and team news
Sri Lanka Team News
Sri Lanka named a 17-member squad led by Charith Asalanka, with a strong spin core including Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Dunith Wellalage. Dhananjaya de Silva returns to the ODI setup, adding all-round depth and experience to bat deep while exploiting home conditions.
The pace attack relies on Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, and Eshan Malinga, with no major injuries reported. Hosts are expected to field a spin-dominant XI at the turning R. Premadasa Stadium to challenge England's batting.
Sri Lanka (predicted playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando
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England Team News
England have named their playing XI for the first ODI, with Zak Crawley returning to the side after more than two years (776 days) away, opening alongside Ben Duckett. The team features a spin-heavy attack suited to subcontinent conditions, including Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid, plus all-round options like Will Jacks and Sam Curran.
Harry Brook continues as captain and the side looks to bounce back from poor recent ODI form and white-ball struggles post a heavy Ashes defeat.
England (confirmed playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid
Players to Watch – Sri Lanka vs. England 1st ODI
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka's captain and middle-order mainstay has been a reliable performer in recent ODIs. Leading the side at home, Asalanka's composure under pressure and ability to rebuild or accelerate innings make him central to Sri Lanka's plans.
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka): The leg-spinning all-rounder remains a major threat with his variations and wicket-taking ability, especially against England in home conditions where spin dominates.
Joe Root (England): The veteran batter has been in exceptional ODI form throughout 2025, finishing as the top run-scorer in the format with three centuries and strong consistency at No. 3. Root's ability to anchor and accelerate will be crucial for England in spin-friendly subcontinent conditions.
SL vs. ENG betting odds & tips: Who has the edge?
According to Dafabet, England enter the first ODI as favourites priced at 1.72 despite the recent results compared to Sri Lanka’s 2.12.
Odds* (click here to bet) | |
Sri Lanka | 2.12 |
England | 1.72 |
*odds are correct at the time of publish
TSN’s Top 3 Predictions:
- Sri Lanka to win the match, using home conditions and spin depth to control the middle overs.
- Joe Root to score 50+ runs, continuing his strong ODI form.
- Wanindu Hasaranga to take 3+ wickets.
SL vs. ENG live scorecard: 1st ODI
To follow the action between Sri Lanka vs.England live, you can make use of the live scorecard feature on Dafabet's website.
Navigate to the game of your choice and click the scorecard icon to follow along, and bet live with the action with a trusted Dafabet site.
Where to watch SL vs. ENG 1st ODI in India
- Venue: R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Date & Time (IST): Thursday, January 22, 2:30 p.m
- Live Telecast & Streaming Details: Fancode
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