Ben Stokes has been named in England’s ODI squad for the upcoming four-match series against New Zealand, with men’s national selector Luke Wright confirming the same 15 players picked will go to the World Cup in India.
That means there is no place for fast bowler Jofra Archer, so instrumental in England’s 50-over World Cup win four years ago, as he continues his recovery from an elbow injury that has kept him out this summer.
Promising pace bowler Gus Atkinson looks set to go to the World Cup in his place, rewarded with a debut call-up after bursting onto the scene this summer. The 25-year-old has taken 20 wickets in five County Championship games at an average of 20.20 for Surrey and, perhaps more pertinently, is the second-leading wicket-taker in The Hundred, with nine wickets in four games at 10.66 a pop.
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It took Rehan Ahmed just two deliveries to take his first international T20 wicket when playing Bangladesh earlier this year.
Big-hitting batter Harry Brook and 19-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed are the other notable omissions from England’s squad, though both, along with Archer, are expected to be among three travelling reserves for the World Cup.
England’s official World Cup Squad must be submitted by September 6, with changes allowed until September 28. Their four-match ODI series against New Zealand starts on September 8 and concludes on September 15.
Gus Atkinson has been rewarded for a fine season with a maiden international call up
Both Brook and Ahmed have been included in the 15-player T20I squad to face New Zealand, while Atkinson is one of three uncapped T20I players picked, along with Hampshire right-arm seamer John Turner and Worcestershire quick Josh Tongue, who made his England Test debut this summer.
Stokes – along with Joe Root, Jason Roy, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood – has only been included in England’s ODI squad, while Ahmed, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Tongue, Turner and Luke Wood are in the T20I party only.
Harry Brook played in all five Ashes Tests for England against Australia this summer
England men’s national selector, Luke Wright, said: “We have been able to name two extremely strong squads that underline the depth of talent we enjoy in white-ball cricket.
“The return of Ben Stokes only adds to that quality with his match-winning ability and leadership. I am certain that every fan will enjoy seeing him back in an England ODI shirt again.
“We’re also excited to give first international call-ups to both Gus Atkinson and John Turner while Josh Tongue has deserved a place in the T20 squad after impressing during the Ashes.
“Any series against New Zealand is closely fought and will provide us with an ideal opportunity to test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.”
England follow their games against New Zealand with a three-match ODI series against Ireland (squad still to be named) before their World Cup campaign kicks off against the Black Caps in Ahmedabad on October 5.
What can we read into England’s squad for New Zealand?
Sky Sports cricket writer David Currie:
“Firstly, Ben Stokes’ ODI return is a huge boost for England as they look to defend the 50-over title they won so dramatically when beating New Zealand in the final four years ago, a game in which he was so influential. Stokes almost single-handedly dragged them over the line on that memorable day at Lord’s, scoring 84 not out before returning to add some crucial super-over runs.
“It’s with the bat that it looks like Stokes’ role will be limited to this time around, the all-rounder still plagued by an injury to his left knee, and his return has spelled bad news for Harry Brook. The Yorkshire and England batter is only picked for the T20Is and therefore fails to add to his three ODI caps, with Dawid Malan – fresh from four hundreds in his last 12 ODIs – seemingly pinching the reserve batting spot for the World Cup.
“On the bowling front, despite head coach Matthew Mott saying recently he would be willing to ‘take a risk’ on ‘proven performer’ Jofra Archer for the World Cup, it seems the pace bowler has failed to prove his fitness in time to earn a spot.
“For Gus Atkinson, it’s a wonderful and perhaps unexpected opportunity to prove his worth as a like-for-like replacement. The Surrey speedster sent down a delivery clocked at 95mph for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred recently and adds extra fire to the England attack alongside Mark Wood.
“Rehan Ahmed is a somewhat surprising omission. It was anticipated that England might pick a third spinner in their squad, in addition to Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, for the sub-content conditions in India, but they’ve instead opted for extra pace reserves and with the option of using the part-time spin of Joe Root and Liam Livingstone.”
Twenty20 International series vs New Zealand
Wednesday August 30 – Seat Unique Riverside, Durham (6pm)
Friday September 1 – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (6pm)
Sunday September 3 – Edgbaston, Birmingham (2.30pm)
Thursday September 5 – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (6pm)
ODI series vs New Zealand
Friday September 8 – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (12.30pm)
Sunday September 10 – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton (11am)
Wednesday September 13 – The Kia Oval, London (12.30pm)
Friday September 15 – Lord’s, London (12.30pm)
ODI series vs Ireland
Wednesday September 20 – Headingley, Leeds (12.30pm)
Saturday September 23 – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (11am)
Tuesday September 26 – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (12.30pm)
ICC 50-over Cricket World Cup
Thursday October 5 – vs New Zealand, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (9.30am)
Tuesday October 10 – vs Bangladesh, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala (9.30am)
Saturday October 14 – vs Afghanistan, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi (9.30am)
Saturday October 21 – vs South Africa, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (9.30am)
Thursday October 26 – vs Sri Lanka, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore (9.30am)
Sunday October 29 – vs India, BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow (8.30am)
Saturday November 4 – vs Australia, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (8.30am)
Wednesday November 8 – vs Netherlands, Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Gahunje (8.30am)
Saturday November 12 – vs Pakistan, Eden Gardens, Kolkata (8.30am)
Watch the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup live on Sky Sports throughout October and November.
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