After the COVID-19 outbreak in the England ODI squad, the selectors have announced a new 18-member squad. Ben Stokes has been named as the captain of the side, and there are as many as nine uncapped players that have received call-ups.
Only a couple of days ahead of the three-match ODI series against Pakistan, England’s squad has gone into disarray. Three England players and with four support staff members tested positive for COVID-19. All the other members of the squad have been isolated as well.
The three-match ODI series, which is going to start on July 8 in Cardiff, is expected to go ahead as scheduled. England had earlier announced an unchanged 16-man squad to face Pakistan in the three ODIs. However, an all-new 18-man squad has been named.
Ben Stokes will lead the side. He was recovering from the finger injury he suffered in the IPL earlier this year. He did return to action in the Vitality T20 Blast and was featured in six games for Durham (scoring 103 runs and picking 8 wickets).
Opening batsman Alex Hales who last featured in England colours in 2019, continues to miss out while nine uncapped players have been named in the squad. Brydon Carse, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, David Payne, Phil Salt and John Simpson haven’t played in any of the three formats.
Danny Briggs, who last played for England back in 2014, has also been included in the side. Zak Crawley, Dan Lawrence and Craig Overton have been around the Test set-up and get a chance to make a mark in the 50-over format.
Chris Silverwood returns as the head coach. He was on a scheduled break, but he will be back at the helm for the ODI series.
“It’s a great opportunity to play on the biggest stage, and for most of the players selected it’s not necessarily something they would have been expecting 24 hours ago,”
director of England men’s cricket Ashley Giles was quoted saying.
