Four Wisden writers have their say on what the England XI should look like for the first Pakistan ODI, after a Covid-19 outbreak wreaked havoc with the hosts’ plans.

England’s ODI XI has been a rather predictable thing in recent times. A reluctance to experiment and a desire to rack up win after win has seen them stick with the same core group, the naming of the team at the toss a formality.

For the Pakistan series, it seemed like that would continue, with an unchanged squad named. Then the entirety of that 16 was forced to enter self-isolation after a Covid-19 outbreak in the camp, and with a second-string 18 hastily cobbled together, the make-up of England’s XI is once again worthy of debate.

Jo Harman, Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine editor

Zak Crawley
Will Jacks
Dawid Malan
Ben Stokes
Dan Lawrence
Ben Duckett (wk)
Lewis Gregory
Craig Overton
Jake Ball
Saqib Mahmood
Matt Parkinson

Who have we got here then? Well not Alex Hales, for one. I think we can consider that chapter closed. And, perhaps more surprisingly, no Sam Hain, whose record-breaking List A average still can’t catch the attention of the selectors. He can consider himself very unfortunate. But there’s plenty of talent to work with, even with 16 players kicking their heels in iso.

James Vince has wasted plenty of opportunities and hasn’t been in any kind of form for Hampshire so the exciting Will Jacks gets the nod to open alongside Zak Crawley, with Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes providing some experience at three and four. Lawrence must have one of the poorer records among ODI debutants (List A average 27) but he’s already shown glimpses of international class and slots in at five, while Ben Duckett takes the gloves, having recently taken on the role with Notts.

The Somerset duo of Gregory and Overton and the Lancs pairing of Mahmood and Parkinson are obvious picks, and Jake Ball’s supreme record in the Blast over the last couple of years gets him the gig as England’s go-to death bowler.

Yas Rana, Wisden.com head of content

Zak Crawley
Phil Salt
Dawid Malan
James Vince
Ben Stokes
Ben Duckett (wk)
Lewis Gregory
Brydon Carse
Danny Briggs
Saqib Mahmood
Matt Parkinson

Careful what you wish for, eh? After a week bemoaning England’s predictable (but not sensible) selections, the tables have turned as they face Pakistan, who, unlike Sri Lanka, are a functional ODI side.

The XI I’ve gone for only includes one uncapped player. I’ve thought for a while that Zak Crawley’s short term England future might actually lie in white-ball cricket and this is as good an opportunity as any to see how he copes with the step up in limited overs cricket. Salt and Jacks are both in sensational form but I’ve gone with the former as he’s been knocking on the door for slightly longer.

Malan, Vince and Duckett slotting in at three, four and six are examples of England’s crazy batting depth, while Parkinson and Mahmood get an overdue opportunity to show what they can do. Carse, despite an admittedly mediocre white-ball record, has the raw tools to thrive in International cricket, Briggs should, in theory. offer some middle-overs control that may be necessary given the inexperience elsewhere in the attack and Gregory slots in at seven.

Taha Hashim, Wisden.com features editor

Zak Crawley
James Vince
Dawid Malan
Ben Stokes
Will Jacks
Ben Duckett (wk)
Lewis Gregory
Craig Overton
Saqib Mahmood
Jake Ball
Matt Parkinson

Zak Crawley and James Vince up top? Shut up and take my money. Dawid Malan can take control of the innings from No.3 – as he does in T20Is – while I’d like to see a debut for Will Jacks. Anyone who has seen the 22-year-old tee off for Surrey in the Blast this year will know that there’s something special there. His offies merit consideration too.

Ben Duckett, who hit two ODI half-centuries when he toured Bangladesh back in 2016, can take the gloves, while Lewis Gregory provides balance to the team as a seam option who can smack a few at No.7. Jake Ball’s story is one to follow in this series: it’s been three years since he last played for England, but he’s bounced back at Notts, topping the wicket-taking charts in last year’s Blast and taking 18 at 15.44 this year.

Phil Walker, Wisden Cricket Monthly editor-in-chief

Zak Crawley
James Vince
Dawid Malan
Ben Stokes
Dan Lawrence
Ben Duckett (wk)
Will Jacks
Craig Overton
Saqib Mahmood
David Payne
Matt Parkinson

Tricky calls, seeing as no one bothers playing 50-over cricket anymore, but I’ve had a dip at this lot. My non-negotiables: Parkinson and Mahmood. They’re class white-ball bowlers of international pedigree. As much for the romance, David Payne can bowl some left-arm seam – he’s one of the county game’s best servants, who’s been great for Gloucestershire for a decade and more. Lawrence, Duckett and Jacks – form players in the T20 stuff – can charm the birds from the trees in the middle order, while Zak Crawley, seen by many as a white-ball cricketer first and foremost, can relocate some of the fun to be had playing for England, opening up alongside the dilettante’s sublime indulgence, James Vince. I’d watch that team. Which is basically the point.