England have recalled Adil Rashid and Sam Curran to their ODI squad, while Jofra Archer will be rested for the tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The 16-player group includes three uncapped players, and the series begins later this month in Pakistan.
Matches run from 18 October through 31 October, split across Rawalpindi and Lahore, with England meeting Pakistan and Sri Lanka twice each. The series closes with a final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 31 October.
Rashid Back After Hand Injury
England’s Rashid featured in a home T20 series against Sri Lanka in September, though a hand injury kept him out of the ODI matches that followed. His recent recall puts a proven spinner back into the middle order for the side.
After his summer ended with groin surgery in August, Curran was in contention for a first Test appearance since 2021, and he is now on track to play in Pakistan.
Archer Gets A Break
England’s national selector Marcus North has opted to give fast bowler Archer a break before two tours of Australia and South Africa during a busy winter. The decision follows a summer during which Archer played across formats for England and in The Hundred.
“Jofra Archer has been rested to manage his workload following a busy summer.” is what North said.
Former skipper Jos Buttler has been left out of the tour after being ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained against Sri Lanka last month, leaving England without him.
Three New Faces In The Squad
The squad includes three uncapped players: Mason Crane, James Coles and Henry Crocombe. Crane is a spinner who last played an international match in the final Test of England’s 2017/18 Ashes tour, eight years ago.
Earlier this summer, Coles and Crocombe were both part of England’s white-ball squads. Now they are in contention to make their ODI debuts, a Sussex pair with a shared connection to county cricket.
North On Crane
North singled Crane out for praise, and the reason is clear: the player has kept performing at a high level for Glamorgan across both formats throughout the summer.
“Mason Crane has been performing consistently for Glamorgan across both formats during the summer,” North said. “He’s an experienced, high-class leg-spinner who thoroughly deserves another opportunity at international level.”
Coaching Staff Rotation
The tour features a coaching staff that rotates, overseen by Brendon McCullum. Kevin Pietersen does not belong to the setup, his role confined to white-ball duties alone.
Last month, Pietersen took on a specialist mentoring job for England’s white-ball teams. He started his duties during the two series against Sri Lanka, and he will come back to it when England travel to Australia in November. That trip will see him working alongside McCullum, who will be helped by Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy, David Saker and Carl Hopkinson.
As England prepares for the 50-over Cricket World Cup next year, there will likely be further changes to McCullum’s team.
The Schedule
On 18 October, Pakistan takes on Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to open the series. Two days after that, England step into the same ground for their own first match against Pakistan, played on 20 October.
All remaining fixtures are held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the final falling on 31 October.
Here is the full fixture list:
- 18 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
- 20 October – Pakistan v England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
- 22 October – Sri Lanka v England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
- 25 October – Pakistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- 27 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- 29 October – Sri Lanka v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- 31 October – Tri-series final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
A return to Pakistan for England will put their ability to adjust to different conditions to the test. Curran and Rashid deepen the middle order, with the uncapped trio getting their opportunity at international level.
See the video the story is built around at Sky Sports.
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