(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled the squad for the white-ball tour of the West Indies, featuring a mix of seasoned players and some promising newcomers. The action-packed schedule kicks off on December 3 in Antigua with the 50-over format followed by the T20I series commencing on December 9 in Barbados, which concludes on December 22 in Trinidad.
Despite Jos Buttler’s poor performance in the World Cup 2023, he retains his role as ODI captain. Notably, six players from England’s World Cup squad, including Buttler, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone have been retained. Ollie Pope, John Turner and Josh Tongue have also been included in the ODI squad despite not having played a single match for their team.
The absence of key players like Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali opens up opportunities for Phil Salt and Will Jacks to solidify their positions as permanent openers in the squad.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who showcased promising performances against Ireland before the World Cup, aim to continue their attacking brand of cricket in the middle order.
In the T20I team, Buttler will lead the side, strategically crafting combinations as the 20-over World Cup next year looms on the same continent. Left-arm pacer Reece Topley, who was sidelined in the middle of World Cup 2023 due to an injury, has made a return to the T20I squad.
The spin department includes Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed, while the pace bowling responsibilities will be handled by players like Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Tymal Mills, Topley, Turner, Tongue and Atkinson.
ODI squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Pope, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, and John Turner
T20I squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Reece Topley, John Turner, and Chris Woakes