In Brendon McCullum’s first significant decision as head coach across red- and white-ball formats, the selectors have called up Joe Root to England’s ODI squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in February and for the 50-over portion of the India series that precedes it.
After an incredible personal year in which he amassed 1556 runs at an average of 55.57, including six hundreds, experts expect Root, who turns 34 later this month, to end 2024 as the world’s top-ranked Test batsman.
However, after England’s catastrophic World Cup defense in India in October and November of 2023, he has not played in the white-ball setup for almost a year. In the team’s group-stage loss at that tournament, he scored 276 runs at 30.66, which was much less than his lifetime average of 47.60 in the format but consistent with a sharp decline (666 runs at 28.95) in 28 ODIs after his crucial contribution to the 2019 World Cup victory.
After suffering a left hamstring injury during England’s 423-run loss to New Zealand in the third Test last week in Hamilton, selectors may have also considered Ben Stokes, Root’s Test captain and another World Cup champion, eligible for a comeback but passed him over for selection.
But in a clear sign of McCullum’s intention to bring his red- and white-ball teams’ ideologies together, the 15-man party includes eight players who played for the Test team this year, and each of the side’s five fast bowlers can reach speeds of more than 90 mph. Among them is Jofra Archer, whose 2024 injury-free recovery has stoked speculation that he would also return to the red ball next summer.
After missing England’s winter Test trips due to an elbow injury sustained in the summer, Mark Wood, the country’s quickest bowler, is back in the lineup. Similar to another selection, Gus Atkinson, who participated in the 2023 World Cup campaign, he hasn’t played ODI cricket since the December trip of the West Indies last year.
Both Saqib Mahmood, who proved his return to full health in the Caribbean last month after suffering twin stress fractures of the back in 2022 and 2023, and Brydon Carse, the standout fast bowler of England’s Test winter, have received the opportunity to build on their good success.
In a few of recent white-ball matches, Jamie Overton played as a specialized death-overs hitter due to England’s resolve to manage him through his own recent stress fractures. He completes a remarkably heavy-duty pace-bowling contingent. Having struck 97 as a nightwatcher in his lone Test match to date, against New Zealand at Headingley in 2022, McCullum is well aware of his batting prowess.
Earlier this year, Curran expressed his worry that, as a medium-pacer who is under six feet tall, he didn’t “fit that mould” that McCullum’s administration is presently seeking.
Another left-armer and mainstay of England’s recent white-ball teams, Reece Topley, has also faced exclusion due to a string of unlucky injuries. Matthew Potts, a seamer who has shown promise in his sporadic appearances across formats but may be a step slower than England’s selected quicks, has also faced exclusion.
As England’s top spinner, Adil Rashid will likely receive support from Root, Liam Livingstone, and Jacob Bethell, who selectors chose for his first big event after the ECB awarded him a two-year core contract last month in recognition of his quick ascent to stardom. Root will miss that portion of the trip since Rashid’s successor apparent, Rehan Ahmed, will go to India for the Twenty20 Internationals in January.
England’s likely opening pairing is Phil Salt and Ben Duckett, who had some success together against Australia in September. Among the top-order alternatives, Will Jacks is the most conspicuous absence.
If skipper Jos Buttler decides to take off his gloves, like he did for the most recent T20I series in the Caribbean, Jamie Smith, who missed England’s Test tour of New Zealand due to the birth of his first child, might also take wickets.
Buttler, like many other players in the team, will be playing in his first ODI in over a year after missing the English home season due to a calf injury.
England ODI squad for Champions Trophy and tour of India: Jos Buttler (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
England T20I squad for tour of India: Jos Buttler (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
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