England’s alarming one-day international slump deepened this week. Harry Brook’s side suffered a 19-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the series opener at Colombo. It was a familiar story of a batting collapse, leaving the team with more questions than answers as their struggles in the 50-over format show no signs of easing.
The Colombo Collapse
England looked set for a comfortable chase of 272 runs. Ben Duckett and Joe Root built a solid 117-run partnership, taking the score to 129 for one after 27 overs. Duckett hit 62 off 76 balls, and Root made 61 off 90. But then, it all fell apart. They lost five wickets for just 35 runs, plunging from 129-1 to 165-6. It was a devastating passage of play.
Spin did the damage. Duckett and Root fell lbw, then Harry Brook (6) and Jacob Bethell (15) were stumped. Sam Curran (5) was caught and bowled. All five wickets went to Sri Lankan spinners, who exploited a turning pitch. England captain Brook commented on the conditions, saying,
“The pitch got a little bit more extreme, it was proving very difficult to start as a batter out there… It was like it hit a rock or something, it spun miles.”
But even with that, the speed of the collapse was concerning. Jamie Overton’s late burst of 34 off 17 balls gave a glimmer of hope, but the ask was too much. Pramod Madushan finished things off for Sri Lanka with three wickets.
A Broader Picture of ODI Woes
This defeat wasn’t just a blip. It marks England’s eleventh consecutive away loss in ODIs. The numbers for England’s 50-over side are grim. They lost 11 of their 15 ODIs in 2025. This tour of the subcontinent started just weeks after a chastening 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia. And before that, they were swept 3-0 in New Zealand. That New Zealand series saw captain Harry Brook involved in a nightclub incident, which he apparently only revealed to the team halfway through an ODI.
These consistent setbacks have left England, currently ranked eighth, in a precarious position for automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. The team’s performance standards seem to be slipping. This isn’t just about bad luck; it’s a pattern of underperformance and a lack of control, according to some observers. The Guardian detailed the team’s struggles, noting this was Brendon McCullum’s first ODI victory away from home as England’s head coach.
Sri Lanka’s Strong Stand
Despite England’s troubles, credit must go to Sri Lanka. They posted a competitive 271 for six from their 50 overs. Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with an unbeaten 93 off 117 balls. He showcased patience and power, hitting 11 boundaries.
Dunith Wellalage provided a late flourish, smashing 25 not out from just 12 balls, including a six and three fours in the final over. Wellalage also took two key wickets in England’s collapse and pulled off a remarkable catch in the deep to dismiss Rehan Ahmed. He was deservedly named Player of the Match.
On the bowling front, Adil Rashid was the pick of the England bowlers, taking 3-44. That moves him to 238 wickets in his ODI career. Liam Dawson and Sam Curran also chipped in with a wicket each. But it wasn’t enough to stop Sri Lanka from securing a 19-run victory, as confirmed by Perplexity AI’s initial scorecard summary.
England now face immense pressure to keep the series alive. The second ODI is on Saturday, back in Colombo. That’s a must-win game for Brook’s side. The final match is next Tuesday at the same venue. As Sky Sports reported, England’s alarming slump continues, and they need to turn things around fast to salvage this tour.
Priyanjan Paul 
Ishaan Singh 
Govind Singh