Crocombe, Donald earn maiden England call-ups for Sri Lanka series

After being included in separate 16-player squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe have been given their first England call-ups. After impressing the selectors over the summer, Sussex seamer Crocombe has been included in the ODI group, while Derbyshire opening batter Donald has been given a spot in England's T20I squad for an outstanding season.

Both teams will be led by Harry Brook, and Jamie Overton, who was sidelined with a thigh injury during the white-ball series against India earlier this summer, will also be back in the England lineup.

Jacob Bethell, on the other hand, is still unavailable despite having successful surgery on his injured knee earlier this week. Phil Salt, on the other hand, will miss the series due to an injury to his right quadriceps. His rehabilitation continues to proceed as planned.

Donald had a great time playing for Derbyshire in the T20 Blast. He scored 489 runs with four half-centuries at a strike rate of 230.66. The 29-year-old has scored 2423 runs and 18 fifties in T20 cricket since making his debut in 2015.

Crocombe, on the other hand, has been on England's radar for a while because he was in the team for the second Test against New Zealand as Ollie Robinson's backup. The 24-year-old has played his first 50-over match in 2021 and has taken 49 wickets in 36 List-A matches.

According to England Men's National Selector Marcus North, "Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe are two promising players who have earned their places on the back of impressive performances in domestic cricket." "Aneurin has had an exceptional season for Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast and also with Trent Rockets in The Hundred while Henry is a player we have had an eye on all summer."

Before the three-match ODI series begins on September 22 in Chester-le-Street, England will play three Twenty20 Internationals against Sri Lanka. These matches will be played in Southampton on September 15, Cardiff on September 17, and Manchester on September 19. The remaining one-day internationals will be played on September 24 at Leeds and September 27 at The Oval.