England will play their first ODI since December last year tomorrow (September 19), against Australia at Trent Bridge.
The match marks the start of their run-in to the Champions Trophy in February. While the tournament will come just two months into Brendon McCullum's term as head coach and just over a year post 2023 World Cup disaster, it's a major tournament and a chance to take a meter reading on England's trajectory. This series will set the course for how England will lineup for that tournament, with several new faces in line for debuts.
Equally, Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the series. While that gives an extra place and more wiggle room for experimentation, it could produce a dilemma for when Buttler returns. There are five matches in the series, plenty of time both to impress and disappoint. In Buttler's absence, Harry Brook will take over the captaincy. It feels like a significant milestone in Brook's career, even if it will be fleeting. After a quiet summer, he has a chance to further establish himself as Buttler's long-term successor, and get a rare long run in a format he seldom gets a proper crack at.
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Brook will likely come in at four, with another debutant - Jamie Smith - set to take Buttler's gloves. England have plenty of options in that department. The most obvious would've been to give them to Phil Salt, who will retain his place at opener, and deputised in the T20Is. However, getting Smith into that middle-order is part of England's long-term thinking of creating a Brook-Buttler-Smith axis from four to six. The only question in the short term is exactly where he'll bat.
Liam Livingstone delivered on his move up the order in the T20I series. His 87 at Cardiff was arguably his best innings in an England shirt, coming in at 34-2 in a bit chase and staying at the crease until it was almost sealed. Perhaps that performance would tempt a move up the ODI order as well in Buttler's absence. However, keeping him at six or below probably mirrors his future in the format more closely. That also leaves Jacob Bethell to come in at seven for a likely ODI debut, and to share the spin-bowling allrounder role, after his pivotal innings in the T20I at Cardiff.
As for the top order, Ben Duckett has already been confirmed as Salt's partner. While he's never previously opened in ODIs, it makes sense that England are considering him as a long term option for the role as they move on from Jonny Bairstow. Equally, he would break up the wall of right-handers England have in their top six.
Will Jacks will likely retain his spot at three for the opening ODI, however, yet to nail down a spot 18 months on from his debut, England have other options. Jordan Cox has only played four List A games in his career, but has been earmarked as an all-format player for England in at least their medium-term plans.
That leaves one place outside of the already confirmed Jofra Archer, who will play a 50-over game for the first time in 18 months, as well as Reece Topley and Adil Rashid. Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts and John Turner will likely be left out as Brydon Carse will be the pacer England most fancy having their eyes on, as a No.8 and likely bowling through the middle overs. It's a role they could do with ticking off their list.
Predicted: England's XI for the first ODI vs Australia
1. Ben Duckett
2. Phil Salt
3. Will Jacks
4. Harry Brook (c)
5. Jamie Smith (wk)
6. Liam Livingstone
7. Jacob Bethell
8. Brydon Carse
9. Jofra Archer
10. Adil Rashid
11. Reece Topley
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