Saqib Mahmood replaced by Jamie Overton for 3rd ODI with Ben Duckett set for final outing of busy summer before rest.
Jamie Overton replaces Saqib Mahmood in England XI for third ODI.
Despite England’s decision to rest him for the T20Is next week, Ben Duckett has been favoured to finish his international career in a big way in Southampton on Sunday, retaining his spot for the third ODI against South Africa.
Jamie Overton has replaced Saqib Mahmood as England’s only change from the lineup that lost by five runs at Lord’s to go behind 2-0 in the three-match series. Following their combined stats of 1 for 112 in 10 overs on Thursday, they will once more be depending on Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, and possibly Joe Root to split the strain of a fifth bowler.
Along with Jamie Smith and Harry Brook, Duckett is one of three England players who have appeared in all 14 of their home international matches this season, including three Twenty20 Internationals, five One-Day Internationals, and six Test matches. He has only reached 20 in ten innings since the Hundred began last month, and he followed his five in the first ODI at Headingley with a rather shaky 14 from 33 balls at Lord’s.
After consulting with England’s head coach Brendon McCullum, he decided to skip the T20Is next week, and Sam Curran will take his place in the squad. The call was intended to make sure Duckett is “firing” ahead of a hectic winter schedule, according to Marcus Trescothick, one of McCullum’s aides.
“Brendon spoke to him over the last few days, trying to get a gauge of where he’s at,” Trescothick said. “You look at every situation individually and in its own way, looking at the volume of cricket they’ve played and by chatting with them to see how they’re feeling… This is the best [decision] to maximise performances going forward as we head into a big winter.
“We need certain players to be firing, and Ben is certainly one of those… We need the boys firing going into November, December, January. That’s an important time. It’s not to say things aren’t important coming up, but sometimes you just have to take your foot off the gas a bit and rejuvenate the mind. Then, you can get back on the horse and crack on.”