Sri Lanka will host England for three ODIs in January 2026. Here are the latest ICC men’s ODI team rankings ahead of the series.
Sri Lanka and England will play three ODIs at the R Premadasa Stadium on January 22, 24, and 27. The ODIs will affect their rankings on the points table that will be used to determine which teams will qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup.
As hosts, South Africa (now sixth) and Zimbabwe (11th) will qualify directly for the World Cup, along with eight other sides as per the rankings on March 31, 2027. An ordinary 2025 (four ODI wins and 11 defeats) has brought England (eighth) to the brink. For England, thus, the series is of vital importance.
Read: SL vs ENG ODIs, where to watch live: TV channels, live streaming and live score
At fifth place, Sri Lanka cannot afford too many defeats either: with a rating of 100, they are not significantly ahead of South Africa (98) or Afghanistan (95).
The two teams have been well-matched over the years: England have won 38 ODIs and Sri Lanka 37. Since 2021, their only encounter was the 2023 World Cup match. On Sri Lankan soil, however, the hosts have a 16-9 lead, though the teams have not clashed there since October 2018.
Sri Lanka vs England, 1st ODI live score
1st ODI, Sri Lanka vs England
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- Ball by ball Over
Latest ICC men’s ODI team rankings ahead of Sri Lanka v England
| Rank | Team | Matches | Points | Rating |
| 1 | India | 45 | 5377 | 119 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 47 | 5370 | 114 |
| 3 | Australia | 38 | 4134 | 109 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 41 | 4294 | 105 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 44 | 4392 | 100 |
| 6 | South Africa | 41 | 4022 | 98 |
| 7 | Afghanistan | 28 | 2657 | 95 |
| 8 | England | 40 | 3432 | 86 |
| 9 | West Indies | 41 | 3173 | 77 |
| 10 | Bangladesh | 38 | 2882 | 76 |
| 11 | Zimbabwe | 24 | 1291 | 54 |
| 12 | Ireland | 18 | 938 | 52 |
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