England lost by 19 runs to Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Colombo, falling to 1-0 down in the three-match series. Ben Duckett and Joe Root both scored half-centuries, but the tourists were dismissed for 252 while chasing 272. This was England's first white-ball fixture since their 4-1 Ashes defeat.

Captain Harry Brook admitted he felt lucky to retain his role after a nightclub incident in New Zealand, which surfaced after the Ashes. England have also faced questions over coach Brendon McCullum's future and a perceived drinking culture. Despite the off-field turmoil, Brook insisted there were positives to take from the performance.

Sri Lanka's spinners proved decisive, with Kusal Mendis unbeaten on 93. Brook acknowledged the challenging pitch conditions, noting that set batters like Duckett and Root found it difficult to start. He stressed the need for England's batting unit to adapt better to turning tracks ahead of the remaining matches.