Zak Crawley returns to England's ODI lineup for Thursday's series opener in Colombo, replacing the dropped Jamie Smith at the top of the order. This marks Crawley's first ODI appearance since December 2023, ending a two-year absence from the 50-over format.

Smith's demotion follows a poor Ashes series and a recent ODI run where he managed three ducks in nine innings, with a highest score of just 13 in England's recent 3-0 series whitewash in New Zealand. The change aims to stabilize the opening partnership ahead of the T20 World Cup.

For the Colombo match, England has also omitted Tom Banton, Rehan Ahmed, Brydon Carse, and Luke Wood. Liam Dawson and Will Jacks are preferred as extra spin options alongside Adil Rashid, reflecting a tactical adjustment for Sri Lanka's conditions. England seeks to correct its recent 50-over struggles.