England just announced their provisional 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. And honestly, it’s got everyone talking. Guess who’s on the list? None other than Jofra Archer! Harry Brook is set to captain the team. This big news comes with some interesting picks, like Josh Tongue, who’s pretty new to the international white-ball scene. The tournament is going to be held in India and Sri Lanka.
Archer’s Comeback Trail
This is a bold move, putting Jofra Archer in the squad. He’s been dealing with a nasty left side strain, you know. That injury took him out of the Ashes series after the third Test. But before that, he was really England’s standout player. He snagged nine wickets at 27.11. He even got a stunning 5 for 53 in Adelaide. Plus, he smashed a maiden half-century with the bat in that same game. What a beast, right?
Right now, Archer is recovering. He’s in Barbados, under the watchful eye of the ECB medical team. He’s gonna miss the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. That tour kicks off on January 22nd. Brydon Carse will fill in for him during those matches. But the plan is for Archer to link up with the squad later. He’s expected to join them in India. He should be there for England’s opening Group C match. That’s against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8th. It’s a tight schedule, for sure. We’re all rooting for him to be back to his blistering best!
Tongue’s Breakthrough Chance
Then there’s Josh Tongue. This guy’s inclusion is a real surprise! He’s completely uncapped in international limited-overs cricket. But head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook have brought him in. They see him as a serious strike bowler. They reckon he’ll thrive on those flatter pitches in India and Sri Lanka. And when you look at his recent form, you can see why.
Tongue was the leading wicket-taker in the 2025 Men’s Hundred, with 14 wickets. He also really impressed during the two Ashes Tests he played. He grabbed 12 wickets at an average of 18.58. Remember that incredible 5 for 45 at the MCG? That was part of his 7 for 89 match figures.
It even earned him the Mullagh Medal as Player of the Match! That helped England get their first Test win in Australia since 2011, which was huge. He’s only played 21 T20 matches, though. So this is a massive opportunity for him. You can read more about his inclusion and Archer’s risky return from ESPN. And another perspective from Hutt Hawks.
Squad Shake-Up and Future Challenges
Of course, with new faces, some had to make way. Jamie Smith got axed completely from the limited-overs setup. His experiment at the top of the order didn’t quite pan out. Jordan Cox also missed out. And seamer Saqib Mahmood is still recovering from knee surgery. Tough luck for those guys.
On a brighter note, allrounder Will Jacks is back in both squads. He missed the New Zealand tour. Ben Duckett also makes a welcome return after missing some T20Is. And Zak Crawley is back in the ODI picture for the first time since 2023. He’s looking to add to his eight caps.
Here’s a look at the full squads that were announced:
England T20 World Cup Provisional Squad & Sri Lanka T20Is:
- Harry Brook (capt)
- Rehan Ahmed
- Jofra Archer (World Cup only)
- Tom Banton
- Jacob Bethell
- Jos Buttler
- Brydon Carse (Sri Lanka tour only)
- Sam Curran
- Liam Dawson
- Ben Duckett
- Will Jacks
- Jamie Overton
- Adil Rashid
- Phil Salt
- Josh Tongue
- Luke Wood
England ODI squad for Sri Lanka tour:
- Harry Brook (capt)
- Rehan Ahmed
- Tom Banton
- Jacob Bethell
- Jos Buttler
- Brydon Carse
- Zak Crawley
- Sam Curran
- Liam Dawson
- Ben Duckett
- Will Jacks
- Jamie Overton
- Adil Rashid
- Joe Root
- Luke Wood
The team has a super tight turnaround after the Ashes. They jet off to Sri Lanka on January 18th. That’s just ten days after the scheduled finish of the fifth Test in Sydney. And apparently, no resting the Test stars! Joe Root, who just turned 35, is in the ODI squad. He was out in Australia for the Ashes too. This really signals that head coach Brendon McCullum and the selectors mean business.
England’s white-ball fortunes have been a bit shaky lately. McCullum needs to re-establish his credibility after that pretty demoralising Ashes tour. Since taking over the white-ball side at the start of 2025, his T20I record is six wins and five defeats from 13 matches. But the ODIs are a real concern. They’ve lost 11 of 15 games! That’s a stat that’ll make you wince. It means automatic qualification for the 2027 50-over World Cup isn’t a sure thing. England is currently sitting in eighth place. So, this T20 World Cup is absolutely huge.
A strong showing here would take some heat off McCullum. Remember, England was semi-finalists in the 2024 edition. They lost to eventual winners India. But they’ve tasted T20 World Cup glory before. They won it in 2010 and 2022! Can they make it three in 2026? Here’s hoping!
England’s group stage opponents in the World Cup include Nepal, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Italy. Their first match is on February 8. The Sri Lanka tour begins with ODIs in Colombo on January 22. The T20Is will be in Kandy, starting January 30. You can find more about England’s schedule and results on ESPN.com.au.
Sagnik Banerjee 
Priyanjan Paul 
Ishaan Singh