Players need to adapt to packed schedule, says Baz as Jamie Smith joins Ben Duckett in sitting out T20Is as well.
McCullum: England players must ‘find ways to deal with’ packed schedule.
This week, England will play South Africa in their Twenty20 International series without Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith. Head coach Brendon McCullum has acknowledged that the team needs to improve their ability to manage their hectic international schedule.
Duckett, Smith, and Harry Brook all played in the Hundred throughout August and have been a constant for England in their 15 international matches so far this summer. In order for his ODI openers to “freshen up” before a hectic winter away, McCullum has recommended an extra week of rest for all three players, who will miss next week’s short excursion to Ireland.
Better preparation would have allowed them to forego the ODIs, but instead Duckett and Smith will miss consecutive T20I series fewer than six months before a World Cup. Phil Salt, who was on paternity leave during England’s most recent Twenty20 Internationals, is expected to start the batting in their place with Will Jacks or Tom Banton.
This winter, England must quickly transition from the Ashes to the T20 World Cup, with white-ball tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand in between. England’s managing director, Rob Key, stated last year that their forthcoming schedule was “easing” when it came to McCullum’s role expansion to include white-ball cricket coverage, but there aren’t many indications that this is happening.
“The scheduling isn’t ideal,” McCullum said after England’s consolation win in Southampton. “That’s just the way it is and it’s not going to change, so we’re going to have to find ways to deal with it… We’re just going to have to find ways to be able to hit the ground running a bit quicker than what we did in this one.
“I spoke to [Duckett] and I said, ‘I think you need to freshen up. You’ve played so much cricket and you’re such an influential player for us over the next few months.’ He’ll have a decent break at home, as will Jamie Smith… It gives the other guys opportunities, and it’s exciting, too. If we just rely on 11 players, then we’re not really going to be competitive.”