Ben Stokes out of Champions Trophy in massive blow to England; Joe Root returns to ODI setup
NEW DELHI: England Test captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy and the preceding white-ball tour of India due to a left hamstring injury sustained during the third Test against New Zealand earlier this month.
The team management has decided not to risk Stokes for these assignments, considering the upcoming five-match Test series against India and the crucial 2025/26 Ashes tour of Australia.
Joe Root, the former Test captain and a key batsman, will return to the ODI side for the first time since the 2023 World Cup in India.
Fast bowler Mark Wood, who missed the recent Test tours due to a bone-stress injury, has been included in both squads.
The India series and Champions Trophy will mark England’s first limited-overs tour and tournament under coach Brendon McCullum, who was previously in charge of only the Test side.
Jos Buttler has retained the captaincy of the two white-ball teams, despite England surrendering both their 50-over and T20 world titles since November 2023.
However, Buttler may not keep wicket, as the squads feature two other wicketkeepers, Jamie Smith and Phil Salt.
Jacob Bethell, a 21-year-old rising star who impressed with three fifties in New Zealand, has been included in both squads. Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed joins the T20 squad, while Root is selected only for the ODIs.
England ODI squad for India tour and 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan:
Jos Buttler (capt/wkt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wkt), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wkt), Mark Wood
England T20 squad for India tour:
Jos Buttler (capt/wkt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wkt), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wkt), Mark Wood
The tour party departs for India on January 17, with the first T20 match against the world champions scheduled for January 22 in Kolkata.
India and England will then play a three-match ODI series, starting in Nagpur on February 6, as preparation for the Champions Trophy.
The tournament, featuring India, Pakistan, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, is likely to take place from February 19 to March 9, with specific match dates yet to be announced.
