Harry Brook has been included in England’s squad for the ODI series against New Zealand. The slight shoulder injury sustained by Jonny Bairstow in the final T20 against the same opponent on Tuesday gave him three more opportunities to qualify for World Cup competition before the squad is set on September 28. He will also be in the squad to contest three ODIs against Ireland and is the only player in both groups alongside seaman Brydon Carse.
The squad for the New Zealand series originally consisted of 15 players and was presented as England’s final selection for the World Cup. However, since Brook was later added to Carse, there will be some fixes after its completion. Many of the dozen players who are adding Brook to the squad for the Ireland game are also hoping they still have a chance of snagging a seat on the flight to India, which will depart on September 27th, the day after their last game. should depart.
With most of England’s core squad having a few days off before heading off to the World Cup, the Ireland squad looks unfamiliar. England’s Test openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will lead the team as captain and vice-captain respectively – Crawley leads the side despite playing just three ODIs in 2021, all within five days.
Three players without international caps have been called up: George Scrimshaw, the 25-year-old seaman who will leave Derbyshire for Northamptonshire at the end of the season, 28-year-old Warwickshire batsman Sam Hain and the very promising wicketkeeper of Surrey. Batsman Jamie Smith. Hain’s current average across all seniors 50+ games is 57.96, which is the average for those who have played at least 50 times in the format Second best ever Behind is only Ruturaj Gaikwad, the 26-year-old who has been left out of India’s provisional World Cup squad.
Smith, 23, is leaders Surrey’s leading scorer in the County Championship this season with 729 at a 42.88 average but has not played a 50-over game since 2021. His selection and that of his County teammate Will Jacks means Surrey will likely be without both players in the last two games of the County Championship season, home against Northants and away in Hampshire. Second-placed Essex has no players in their squad. The ECB said its selection panel consulted with counties and “weighed their ambitions ahead of the end of the county championship season” before making its decision.
England’s four-game series against New Zealand begins on Friday in Cardiff and concludes at Lord’s on September 15. The Ireland series begins five days later at Headingley, with further games taking place at Trent Bridge on September 23 and the County Ground in Bristol on September 26.
