England will give 19-year-old spinner Rehan Ahmed a chance to shine in the opening One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka in Chester-le-Street, with veteran spinner Adil Rashid sidelined due to a minor injury. Rashid, who has been a key member of England’s spin attack for over a decade, is undergoing a scan on a niggle to his bowling hand, which he sustained while fielding during England’s recent T20 series victory over Sri Lanka at Old Trafford. This opens the door for Ahmed, who is 16 years younger than Rashid, to take on a leading role in England’s spin department for the series opener. Ahmed, who has played nine ODIs since his debut in March 2023, will now have the opportunity to step out of Rashid’s shadow and prove his worth in international cricket. England’s white-ball captain, Harry Brook, expressed confidence in Ahmed’s abilities, stating that he has been part of the squad for several years and is ready to take on this challenge. Alongside Ahmed, Will Jacks has been named vice-captain for the three-match series and will offer additional spin support. Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell remains outside the selection, while Tom Banton has been recalled to the top of England’s batting order for his second ODI appearance in six years. Banton’s recall follows his strong performance in England’s T20 squad, where he secured a place further down the order. Brook praised Banton, saying he is a good player against the short ball and arguably one of England’s best players of spin. This decision reflects the team’s desire to have a well-rounded batting lineup that can handle different types of bowling. In preparation for the match, former England star Kevin Pietersen offered batting advice during a team huddle, focusing on the importance of reading spin bowling and rotating the strike effectively. Pietersen emphasized that while England’s squad has power and is good at hitting boundaries, they need to show more class in their approach to batting against spin. Brook acknowledged the need for improvement in this area, noting that the team must be more strategic in their batting. The England team for the first ODI includes Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Jake Overton, George Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and James Tongue.