Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

There's some talented young cricketers in the Sri Lanka team. They've lost big moments, it's about being smarter - when to put on the accelerator or absorb the pressure. It's about assessing the situation, not skill.

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Sri Lanka are familiar opponents for England. They have already met four times this year in the T20 format - once in the T20 World Cup in the spring and three times in a bilateral series that preceded it.

England won all four of those matches, as I'm sure you remember. England are, in fact, on a 12-match winning run against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's captain Kusal Mendis is injured for this series, although Wanindu Hasaranga is back after missing the World Cup.

Opener Pathum Nissanka hit a brilliant hundred in a win over Australia at the World Cup earlier this year.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

It's been a funny old summer of international cricket, but the one thing England have done really well during the 18 months of Harry Brook's leadership is how they've played T20 cricket. A lot to look forward to in this series, England seem like they're in a really good spot.

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It is two months since England were last in T20 action. That was their impressive 4-0 series win over world champions India.

England have got things going in this format under Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum, have won 17 of their past 19 T20s, and could retake their place at the top of the ICC rankings in this series.

They are without Phil Salt (quad), Jacob Bethell (knee) and Sam Curran (groin) for this series, however. Jofra Archer has also been rested for this opener.

They start as big favourites but the series is a test of their depth.

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Aneurin Donald is England's latest debutant - and, aged 29, their oldest in T20s for nine years.

The right-hander has been highly rated for a fair while, however. Aged just 19 he hit a 123-ball double century in first-class cricket.

And after seasons struggling for consistency and others hampered by injury, he has doubled down on that attacking approach.

In three T20 Blast seasons at Derbyshire, he has a strike-rate of 217 while averaging 34.8.

He was similarly attacking in The Hundred this year and was namechecked by Brendon McCullum during his punditry work for the final.

Although he's still at Derbyshire, the Welshman will also be the first product of Glamorgan's academy to play for England since Simon Jones in 2005.

England: Aneurin Donald, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (capt), Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Lahiru Udara, Charith Asalanka (capt) Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga

England captain Harry Brook: "We are pretty happy. It looks very dry so hopefully we can get purchase in the second innings and put pressure on the board with a first-innings total."

On debutant Aneurin Donald: "Everyone is excited to see what he can produce tonight. He deserves his opportunity."

On Kevin Pietersen: "We have had him around, he's a great bloke. Players of KP's ability are awesome to add, to have a different voice and challenge people on different areas. We can all learn from him."

On his hopes to regain top spot in the ICC rankings: "You always want it. We were hoping have it longer than couple of weeks. We have a good opportunity to get back up there against a strong Sri Lanka side."

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka speaking at the toss: "We are going to bowl first. It looks like a dry pitch, a bit different to what we've seen.

"We've played a couple of practice games, we came here one week ago and had a few practice sessions.

"We are going to play with three spinners, two seamers and two genuine all-rounders. We have seen this pitch yesterday, it helps us to pick our team.

"I just want consistency, as in past years. We've been doing well in patches. I just want consistency in our team."

Sri Lanka's skipper for this series is the experienced Charith Asalanka. He has won the toss and fancies a chase.

Harry Brook says he would have batted first in any case.

Three days after the final day of the Test summer, England are back at it again.

Baz and Bazball are back, with Brendon McCullum and Harry Brook's white-ball sides playing Sri Lanka in the first of three T20s.

Three ODIs follow and will conclude the summer.

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In a crazy summer, this could be the craziest image.

Kevin Pietersen is back working for the ECB.

It could be box office and adds some intrigue to England's latest T20 series...