ECB on Monday named pacers Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and wicket-keeper Jos Buttler in the white-ball series against Australia. These three players were a part of the England’s Test squad during the series against West Indies and Pakistan.
However, Test skipper Joe Root has still not been selected for this tour starting September 4 at the Rose Bowl Cricket Ground.
Dropping Root comes as a huge surprise despite his consistent performance in T20 cricket. He is scoring runs for his team Yorkshire in the ongoing Vitality T20 Blast in England. He last played in the 2016 T20 World Cup when he finished as England’s highest scorer in the tournament.
However, the national selector Ed Smith clarified by stating that it was done to manage the workload of Root. Even if he was named in the squad, he wouldn’t have made into the Playing XI during the series.
“I don’t think any door is closed to Joe Root. He’s a brilliant cricketer, an outstanding man. He’s also England’s Test captain. And at the moment we are setting up in a particular way as an XI in T20 cricket, and Joe’s not in that.” Smith told ESPNCricninfo.
“He plays so much cricket, he gives so much to England every time he plays, and the decision is that it’s not right for him that we have him in the squad if he’s not likely to be starting.” He added.
England have also named Sam Curran and Tom Curran alongside Tom Banton has been named in both formats. While vice Captain Ben Stokes still remains unavailable as he remains in New Zealand with his family.
England T20I squad:
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Reserves: Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood
England ODI Squad:
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Reserves: Joe Denly, Saqib Mahmood
