In a significant development for England’s limited-overs cricket, former Test captain Joe Root has been recalled to the ODI squad for the upcoming tour of India and the Champions Trophy. The 15-man squad, announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), will feature in both the ODI series against India and the prestigious ICC tournament.
However, current Test skipper Ben Stokes, who was also in contention for a comeback to the 50-over format, has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. The ECB confirmed that Stokes’ injury was the reason behind his exclusion from the squad.
Root, who last played an ODI during England’s unsuccessful World Cup defence in India last year, had been overlooked for the format since then, with the team management focusing on nurturing younger talent. The 32-year-old had a disappointing campaign, scoring only 276 runs at an average of 30.66. However, with Brendon McCullum taking over as the all-format head coach, Root’s experience and expertise have been sought once again.
The pace attack looks formidable, with the return of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, who will be supported by the likes of Saqib Mahmood, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Jamie Overton. The inclusion of young batting sensation Jacob Bethell, who has been in impressive form recently, marks his first selection for an ICC tournament. Wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith has also earned a spot in the squad, while Will Jacks has been overlooked.
Interestingly, the same 15-member squad has been chosen for the five-match T20I series against India, with the sole change being the replacement of Joe Root with leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed. The tour will commence with the T20I series, starting from January 22, followed by the ODI series, which will be played between February 6 and 12.
The ODI squad for the India series and Champions Trophy includes:
Jos Buttler (C), Phil Salt, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett, Brydon Carse, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and Joe Root.
The T20I squad for the India series features:
Jos Buttler (C), Phil Salt, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett, Brydon Carse, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and Rehan Ahmed.
As England prepares for a crucial year in limited-overs cricket, the return of Joe Root to the ODI fold and the inclusion of young talents like Jacob Bethell and Jamie Smith indicates a balance of experience and youth in the squad. However, the absence of Ben Stokes due to injury will undoubtedly be felt, and the team will hope for his speedy recovery ahead of future challenges.
