Sonny Baker awarded his first England call for Ireland T20is with Jacob Bethell named as the skipper for the series.
Sonny Baker wins first England call-up, Jacob Bethell to captain in Ireland.
Jacob Bethell’s quick ascent continues as he was selected captain of the T20I team to tour Ireland right away, while Sonny Baker has received his first England call-up for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa.
When Bethell replaces Harry Brook in three Twenty20 Internationals, he will become the youngest captain of England’s men’s team. Bethell, who is still just 21, will surpass the record now held by Monty Bowden, who led England against South Africa at Cape Town during the 1888–1889 Test tour at the age of 23 and 144 days.
England’s home season will come to an end next month when South Africa arrives to play three ODIs and three T20Is. Brook will then sit out the three-match trip to Ireland, along with four other all-format players – Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith – as part of workload management.
Baker was given an England development contract after making an impression with the England Lions throughout the winter. This summer, he has drawn attention with Hampshire and Manchester Originals thanks to his ability to bowl at speeds of almost 90 mph.
The ODI team he joins is essentially the same as the one that defeated the West Indies 3-0 in Brook’s maiden series as permanent white-ball skipper at the beginning of the summer. Tom Hartley, Gus Atkinson, and Luke Wood all go, but Hartley will go to Ireland and Wood is in both T20I squads. Atkinson’s red-ball loads will probably increase before the winter Ashes.
After a successful summer with the bat, Rehan Ahmed rejoins the ODI group and is part of all three squads.