England has unveiled a fresh-looking squad for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia, leaving out seasoned players Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali. Five uncapped players have been called up, signalling a strategic move towards nurturing young talent.
Warwickshire's Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley, both batting all-rounders, are among those receiving their first international call-ups for the three-match T20 series. Joining them are Essex's Jordan Cox, Hampshire's fast bowler John Turner, and Leicestershire's left-arm pacer Josh Hull, who was also named in the Test squad to face Sri Lanka.
Hull, Bethell, and Turner are also included in the squad for the five one-day internationals that follow. Former opener Marcus Trescothick will step in as England's interim coach, taking the reins after Matthew Mott's departure in July, which came after England's semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup against India.
Mott's exit followed England's challenging defence of their 50-over world title last year, leading to a renewed focus on the future.
England T20 Squad:
- Jos Buttler (Lancashire, captain)
- Jofra Archer (Sussex)
- Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
- Brydon Carse (Durham)
- Jordan Cox (Essex)
- Sam Curran (Surrey)
- Josh Hull (Leicestershire)
- Will Jacks (Surrey)
- Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
- Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
- Dan Mousley (Warwickshire)
- Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
- Phil Salt (Lancashire)
- Reece Topley (Surrey)
- John Turner (Hampshire)
England ODI Squad:
- Jos Buttler
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
- Jacob Bethell
- Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
- Brydon Carse
- Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
- Josh Hull
- Will Jacks
- Matthew Potts (Durham)
- Adil Rashid
- Phil Salt
- Jamie Smith (Surrey)
- Reece Topley
- John Turner
High-profile names like Bairstow and Moeen, both instrumental in England's World Cup victories, have been omitted, hinting that their international careers might be winding down. Bairstow, who received a two-year contract last October, was dropped from the Test team earlier this summer, while Moeen retired from Test cricket after the Ashes last year.
Moeen, with 298 caps, has been a key figure, serving as Jos Buttler’s deputy in recent World Cups. Bairstow, sidelined from the 2022 T20 World Cup due to injury, has represented England in 287 matches across formats.
Another omission is Chris Jordan, a member of the T20 World Cup squad, while Joe Root has been rested from the ODI lineup. Injuries have sidelined Mark Wood and Ben Stokes.
Buttler, returning as captain after recovering from a calf injury, will lead a squad that includes Saqib Mahmood, who makes his comeback after a stress fracture in his back last year. Brydon Carse, whose suspension for betting offences ends on August 28, is also named in both squads.
With the first T20 against Australia scheduled for September 11, just a day after the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka concludes, players like Harry Brook, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, and Jamie Smith will only be available for the ODI matches. Smith, who debuted in ODIs against Ireland last year, is expected to play a more prominent role following a strong start to his Test career.
Liam Livingstone, typically a fixture in the 50-over side, is included only in the T20 squad. Mousley, known for his middle-order power-hitting, showcased his off-spin skills in The Hundred, where he defended 10 runs in the final over for Birmingham Phoenix against Trent Rockets.
Barbados-born Bethell, a left-handed batter who also played for Phoenix, was part of England's squad that reached the Under-19 World Cup final in 2022. Cox, initially picked for the Test squad against Sri Lanka, was released to play for Essex, where he scored a rapid century in the County Championship.