Will Jacks' career-best 50-over figures on Tuesday came shortly after the England all-rounder was rushed into hospital for emergency surgery while on a weekend away.

Jacks was given an initial four-week recovery period but ended up returning a few days early to captain the Lions in a warm-up against Sri Lanka on 11 September. Afterwards he played in all three T20s in England's series sweep against the same opponents, and on Tuesday took career-best 50-over figures of 5-22 in the first one-day international in Chester-le-Street.

"Luckily they were able to do a slight incision and not have to rip me open completely," he said. It makes the 4.3 degrees of turn Jacks found at Chester-le-Street – the most he has produced at home in his ODI career – even more impressive. His figures were also the second best by an England spinner in one-day internationals.

Jacks' match also included an important 46 not out with the bat. "I came in and found it really difficult to start off," he said. "I just re-evaluated what I thought was a good score." Jacks is also vice-captain to Harry Brook for these Sri Lanka series and has become an increasingly vocal member of the group.