The currently strong in-form players Jofra Archer, Sam Curran and Ben Stokes will not be seen in the 3-match ODI series that’s going to take place in South Africa. The trio has been rested from England’s ODI squad as the decision from ECB is revealed.
The British cricket board looks to manage the amount of time players spend in bio-secure conditions away from their families. The right-arm fast bowler Archer has spent more time than any other England player in bubbles at the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford.
Besides, Curran had also spent more or less the same amount of time in bubbles to that of Archer. Stokes flew to New Zealand for family reasons after the first Test against Pakistan, and all three players have been in the UAE playing in the IPL.
It was Archer and Curran who have been at UAE for the last two months and Stokes has joined the tournament a month back. The England opener Jos Butler has also been close to Archer for the most days spent away from home over the summer and has also been at the IPL.
Eoin Morgan has warned last month about the strains of “bubble to bubble” cricket on players’ mental health. Alongside, concerns over burnout during the IPL were spoken by Archer and Curran.
The international recall for Reece Topley is yet to be filled with capping the player for the upcoming South Africa tournament. In the absence of key players, England will replace Topley , after four injury-blighted years without a cap.
There are also opportunities for Lewis Gregory, Olly Stone, and Liam Livingstone in the ODI squad. Tom Banton is the reserve player among the three reserves. Tom had a disappointing T20I series against Australia in September.
Jake Ball who joined Tom Banton has last won a cap in 2018. He might be on the cards of the upcoming series with SA as he topped the wicket-taking records in this season’s T20 Blast. Dawid Malan who ranked the world’s No. 1 T20I batsman by the ICC is in the T20I squad. Chris Jordan along with Malan is included in the T20I squad.
English