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England has shown excellent resolve in bouncing back from their defeat in the Ashes 2025 series to emerge victorious in the ODI series against Sri Lanka with a result of 2-1. Harry Brook and his team will begin their T20I series which includes three matches on January 30 after finishing the 50-over leg of their schedule. The touring squad will miss one important player as fast bowler Jofra Archer cannot participate.

 

Archer’s Absence Raises Questions

 

Jofra Archer has not been included in England’s white-ball squads for the Sri Lanka tour. The decision has surprised many fans, especially given Archer’s impressive recent form. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to rest the pacer after he suffered a left-side strain which caused him to miss the two final Ashes Tests in Australia.

 

England’s management is taking a cautious approach, focusing on Archer’s long-term fitness rather than risking him in a bilateral series.

 

Focus on T20 World Cup 2026

 

The upcoming T20Is against Sri Lanka are England’s final preparation before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Archer has been excluded from the current series but he remains vital to England’s plans as he has been selected for their provisional squad for the global event.

 

The team officials plan to manage his current workload because they believe it will help him achieve optimal fitness for the major tournament.

 

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Strong Ashes Performance Before Injury

 

Before his injury setback, Archer was one of England’s standout performers in the Ashes. He took nine wickets from three matches with one of his best performances being a five-wicket haul which he achieved in Adelaide. His pace and bounce troubled Australian batters throughout the series.

 

Archer also made valuable contributions with the bat. His fighting 38 in Brisbane and a well-earned half-century in the following Test gave England much-needed depth in the lower order.

 

Recent White-Ball Impact

 

Archer has maintained his effectiveness in limited-overs cricket despite dealing with multiple injuries. He achieved an 11-wicket total in his last four ODIs after taking four wickets in both his matches against South Africa and New Zealand. He achieved success in T20Is during his England tour of India in early 2025 and then returned from injury to take three wickets which led his team to victory against South Africa.

 

England Squad Looks Ahead

 

England will rely on a balanced squad led by Harry Brook who will include Jos Buttler and Sam Curran and Adil Rashid as they strive to build momentum heading into the World Cup.