Harry Brook is set to lead England in the upcoming one-day international (ODI) series against Australia after regular captain Jos Buttler was ruled out due to injury. Buttler, 34, has been sidelined with a right calf problem that also caused him to miss both the T20 series and The Hundred. Despite efforts to recover, Buttler has not healed in time for the five-match ODI series.
Josh Hull, a left-arm fast bowler, has also been withdrawn from the squad due to a quad injury. In his place, all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who performed well in the second T20 win over Australia, has been added to the 15-man team.
The first ODI is scheduled to be played at Trent Bridge on Thursday, September 19. Buttler expressed disappointment about missing the series, noting that his recovery has been slower than anticipated. “It’s a shame to miss out, but I want to ensure I recover properly, especially with plenty of cricket ahead,” he told Sky Sports.
Brook, who made his ODI debut just 18 months ago, will take on the captaincy for the first time. The 25-year-old has garnered attention for his performances in Test and T20 formats, but his ODI record is more modest, with an average of 29.07 in 15 innings. However, his leadership experience in The Hundred, where he captained Northern Superchargers, has helped prepare him for this opportunity.
Brook acknowledged the influence of Test captain Ben Stokes on his leadership style, saying, “I’ve learned a lot from Stokesy, and it’s been great to watch how he leads.”
Phil Salt, who led England in the T20 series, will remain in the squad. As for Hull, though he missed this series, his injury isn’t considered severe enough to affect his availability for England’s October tour of Pakistan.
Interim coach Marcus Trescothick will oversee the ODI series as Brendon McCullum won’t assume white-ball coaching duties until January.
England’s ODI Squad to Play Australia
Harry Brook (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, John Turner.
