England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed Derbyshire batter Aneurin Donald will ‘open the batting’ with Jos Buttler in Tuesday night’s (September 15) first T20I with Sri Lanka.
Donald caught the attention of England’s selectors after smashing 489 runs, including four fifties, across 12 Vitality Blast matches this season.
His 37 sixes were a tournament high. He will make his debut on the international stage in Southampton, with the game starting at 6.30pm UK time and televised on Sky Sports.
Buttler’s normal opening partner Phil Salt is out of the three-match series with a quad injury.
Nice combination
And McCullum told Sky Sports: “Anerurin will open the batting with Jos, which is very exciting.
“He is a cricketer that has been on our radar for quite some time.
“He has a game where he can go from ball one, which is probably quite similar to Salty. He has got raw power and an incredible amount of talent.
“I am looking forward to seeing how he goes on the big stage.
“It’s great to be able to see him take that step up. I am sure him and Jos will be a nice combination.”
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Archer given a rest
England paceman Jofra Archer has been rested for the T20I series after playing a starring role in the red-ball team’s 3-0 peppering of Pakistan under Joe Root’s captaincy.
But Josh Tongue, who also tormented the Pakistan batting line-up, gets the nod for the switch to white-ball action at the Utilita Bowl, where Harry Brook will lead England as skipper.
Tongue is likely to be rested for the second T20I in Cardiff on Thursday, September 17.
McCullum added: “We are trying to be smart around player management.
“Appreciative that they have had a fair schedule while trying to make sure we have our best team out there.”
England XI for first T20 vs Sri Lanka: Aneurin Donald, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook (captain), Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid.
The third and final T20I is at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday, September 19.
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Michael Davey 
SportJustSport writers