ENG Vs SL Match Prediction: The England vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI 2026 is set to take place at Headingley in Leeds on Thursday, September 24. England enter the contest with a 1-0 lead after winning the opening ODI by 89 runs at Chester-le-Street. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, need a strong response to keep the three-match series alive.
Sri Lanka’s tour of England has been a difficult one so far. The visitors lost the two-Test series before suffering a 3-0 defeat in the T20I series. England then carried their momentum into the ODI series by winning the first game.
England have enjoyed a busy 2026 home season. They reached the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup before losing to eventual champions India. At home, they also defeated India 4-0 in the T20I series and won the ODI series 2-1.
The Three Lions then completed a 3-0 T20I sweep against Sri Lanka before taking the first ODI. Their current white-ball form gives Harry Brook’s side plenty of confidence heading into the second match.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have struggled to produce consistent results during their England tour. After losing the three T20Is, they also went down in the first ODI despite showing more resistance with the bat and ball than they did in the T20 series.
ENG Vs SL 2nd ODI 2026 Date, Time and Venue
- Match: England vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI
- Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
- Time: 5:00 PM IST / 12:30 PM local time
- Venue: Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds
The second ODI is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM local time in Leeds, which translates to 5:00 PM in India.
England Vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Live Streaming: How To Watch
The England vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI will be available for live streaming on Sony LIV in India. Sony LIV’s official cricket listings confirm coverage of the Sri Lanka tour of England 2026.
For television coverage, viewers should check their local sports-channel listings closer to match time, as broadcast availability can vary by platform and region.
ENG Vs SL 2nd ODI Squads
England Full Squad
Harry Brook (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Sonny Baker, Jos Buttler, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Josh Tongue.
Sam Curran and Phil Salt are unavailable for the series, while Jacob Bethell is continuing his recovery from injury.
Sri Lanka Full Squad
Kusal Mendis (C, WK), Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamil Mishara, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga.
England Vs Sri Lanka ODI Head-to-Head Record
England and Sri Lanka have a long history in ODI cricket. Going into the second ODI of the 2026 series, England hold a narrow advantage in their overall head-to-head record.
- Matches Played: 83
- England Won: 41
- Sri Lanka Won: 38
- No Result/Ties: 4
- First ODI: February 12, 1982
- Most Recent ODI: September 22, 2026
The latest meeting saw England defeat Sri Lanka by 89 runs in the first ODI at Chester-le-Street.
ENG Vs SL Toss Update
To be updated after the toss.
The toss could have an impact at Headingley, particularly if there is early movement available for the seamers.
England Vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Predicted Playing 11
England Predicted Playing 11
- Tom Banton
- Ben Duckett
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook (C)
- Jos Buttler (WK)
- Will Jacks
- Rehan Ahmed
- Jamie Overton
- Gus Atkinson
- Jofra Archer
- Josh Tongue
England’s ODI squad includes several established international players alongside younger options such as Rehan Ahmed and Henry Crocombe. The final XI will depend on team combination and conditions at Headingley.
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing 11
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kamindu Mendis
- Kusal Mendis (C, WK)
- Pavan Rathnayake
- Charith Asalanka
- Janith Liyanage
- Dunith Wellalage
- Sachindu Colombage
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Asitha Fernando
- Dilshan Madushanka
Sri Lanka could retain a combination featuring several of the players who appeared in the first ODI, with the bowling attack expected to play an important role at Headingley.
ENG Vs SL 2nd ODI Pitch Report: Headingley Cricket Ground
Headingley has traditionally offered assistance to fast bowlers, particularly during the early stages of an innings. In overcast English conditions, seamers can find movement through the air and off the surface, making the opening overs particularly important.
Once the ball becomes older and the initial movement reduces, batting can become more comfortable. Batters who survive the early spell should have opportunities to build substantial partnerships.
Spinners could also become useful as the pitch wears, especially during the middle overs. The square boundaries at Headingley are generally shorter than the straight boundaries, which can encourage attacking strokeplay.
The conditions seen in the first ODI also suggested that batting was not completely straightforward, with England eventually posting 265 before Sri Lanka struggled in the chase.
ENG Vs SL 2nd ODI Weather Forecast
Leeds is expected to experience cool conditions during the afternoon, with temperatures remaining around the high teens Celsius. Cloud cover could also be a factor during the match.
The possibility of cloud and cooler conditions may provide some assistance to the seam bowlers, although the overall rain threat is expected to remain relatively low.
Weather conditions can change quickly in Leeds, so both teams will need to keep an eye on the latest forecast before the start of play.
England Vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI 2026: 3 Players To Watch
Will Jacks
Will Jacks is an important part of England’s white-ball setup because of his ability to contribute with both bat and ball. He played a valuable role in the first ODI, scoring 46 and also taking important wickets.
His ability to accelerate the scoring rate and provide an additional bowling option makes him a player Sri Lanka will need to contain.
Dunith Wellalage
Dunith Wellalage can provide Sri Lanka with balance through his left-arm spin and lower-order batting. Conditions at Headingley could give him an opportunity to make an impact, particularly if the surface begins to slow down during the middle overs.
Sri Lanka will need contributions from their all-rounders if they are to challenge England’s depth.
Joe Root
Joe Root remains one of England’s most experienced ODI batters. His ability to rotate the strike, build partnerships and control the middle overs makes him a key player for the hosts.
With England looking to seal the ODI series, Root’s experience could be particularly valuable if the pitch proves challenging for strokeplay.
ENG Vs SL Match Predictionn: Who Will Win?
England will enter the ENG vs SL 2nd ODI with the advantage of a 1-0 series lead and strong recent white-ball results. They also have home conditions and a deep squad featuring players such as Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Will Jacks.
Sri Lanka will need a significant improvement with the bat and greater consistency from their bowling attack to level the series.
Based on the recent results, home advantage and the balance of the available squads, England are predicted to win the second ODI and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Prediction: England to win.
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