Joe Root has been added to England’s squad for the first ODI of the three-match series against Ireland this week, while Harry Brook will sit out of the series following his addition to the World Cup squad.
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The news that Root will play in the match at Headingley on Wednesday (September 20) before heading out to India for the competition comes off the back of a poor series for the former Test captain against New Zealand. Root scored 6, 0, 4 and 29 in his four innings in the series, playing for the first time in the format since July last year.
When England announced their squad to face Ireland two weeks ago, none of the 15 players selected in their preliminary World Cup squad were named among the playing group. Brook was set to play in the series but after it was confirmed that he would replace Jason Roy in the World Cup squad yesterday (September 17) he has been withdrawn from the series.
Root will only play in the first match of the series, with the final two matches taking place on September 23 and 26. England’s first warm-up game before their tournament opener in India will take place against the hosts on September 30, ten days after the first Ireland ODI, and England will fly out to India the day after the Ireland series finishes. England are heavy favourites to win the first ODI, priced at 1/8 by Betway.
England chief selector, Luke Wright said on the updates to the Ireland squad: “You only have to look at what [Brook] has had this summer, he’s probably had one of the most busy summers out of everyone. For a young lad, the Ashes, the Hundred coming into these series, it would be silly of us to not give him a break.
“You always have to think of how much more batting does someone need next to what mental break does someone need. I think in this case we wanted to give him that break before the World Cup.
“Joe Root has asked to be involved in that first game, so he will be added to the squad for Headingley and that’s where we are at at the minute with that Ireland squad.”
Zak Crawley will captain England in the series against Ireland while Ben Duckett has been named as vice-captain. Three uncapped players – Sam Hain, Jamie Smith and George Scrimshaw – are also part of the squad.
Zak Crawley will captain in England in their three-match ODI series against Ireland this month, with Ben Duckett named as vice-captain and three uncapped players in their 13-man squad.
Crawley has played three ODIs in his career so far, all of which came in the Covid-19 affected series against Pakistan in 2021. It will be the first time he has captained England in any format.
England squad vs Ireland: Zak Crawley (c), Ben Duckett (vc), Rehan Ahmed, Joe Root (first ODI only), Brydon Carse, Sam Hain, Will Jacks, Craig Overton, Matthew Potts, Phil Salt, George Scrimshaw, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.
