Harry Brook has been named captain of the England cricket team for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Therefore, this is the first time the young batter will represent his national side as a skipper. After regular skipper Jos Buttler suffered a calf injury that ruled him out of action, selectors have turned to Harry Brook to lead the side. Brook is the captain of England’s Under-19 and vice-captain to Ollie Pope in the Test series against Sri Lanka. Now, taking up the mantle of leading the seniors in what is a big five-match series.
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First Stint as Captain of Harry Brook
Harry Brook’s elevation to the captaincy for the ODI series against Australia is a huge milestone in the 24-year-old’s career. An increasingly fast-rising star in the English game, Brook has captained England Under-19s during the 2018 World Cup. His most recent leadership role came as vice-captain to Ollie Pope during England’s Test series against Sri Lanka, supporting the team in the absence of regular Test captain Ben Stokes.
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This responsibility arguably denotes that Harry Brook is rising through the ranks within the team. His stewardship of such a young crew, particularly in the absence of the more experienced players like Buttler, will be closely observed as England attempts to balance talent development with retention of competitive advantage.
Jos Buttler’s Absence Due to Injury
Buttler, who has not played any form of competitive cricket since England’s T20 World Cup semifinal against India in July, had initially appeared likely to make his return during the ODI series against Australia. The ECB, however, confirmed Buttler would miss both the T20 and ODI series to ensure a complete recovery. Hence, his return is targeted for England’s tour of the Caribbean in November.
Buttler’s absence is a huge blow to the English setup, more so because he brings a high degree of experience and leadership into white-ball cricket. But his injury has brought in players like Liam Livingstone to step into crucial roles within the team.
Livingstone Returns to ODI Squad
Liam Livingstone is rewarded for his efforts in the ongoing T20I series as an explosive all-rounder and earns a recall into the ODI squad. Livingstone took five wickets and hit an incredible 87 off just 47 balls in the second T20I to nail his status as an energetic asset for England. His inclusion in the ODI setup after his earlier omission will give England an all-round versatility option capable of influencing games both as batter and bowler.
Meanwhile, Livingstone’s return brings depth to the squad, especially with his ability to chip in across departments. As England gear up for a tough series against Australia, the form of Livingstone could turn out to be defining.
Injury Setback for Josh Hull
In a fresh setback for England, young pacer Josh Hull has been ruled out of the ODI series in Australia due to a quad injury. Hull received his maiden international cap in the final Test against Sri Lanka. Additionally, he was tipped as one of the most exciting fast bowlers in the England ranks. That injury means he now faces the rest of the series out, while England will look to Jofra Archer, Reece Topley and Olly Stone for other pace options.
The absence of Hull for the player and team is rather disappointing, but it gives a venue to the other bowlers to fill in the void. The pace attack of England, led by Archer among other experienced names, will be very critical to their chances in this strong Australian side.
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England’s Squad for the ODI Series
The ECB has named a 15-man squad for the ODI series against Australia, captained by Harry Brook. The mix in this squad is from the experience of the likes of Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley to the youngsters like Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith, and John Turner.
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England squad for Australia ODIs:
- 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
Conclusion
The appointment of Harry Brook as captain for England’s ODI series against Australia marks an important milestone in the career of this young cricketer. With Jos Buttler still recovering from his calf injury, Brook will be leading a team filled with prospects against a strong Australian team. Inclusion of key players like Liam Livingstone within the fold and exclusion of the likes of Josh Hull due to injury, it pretty much gears England up for an exciting yet tough series. Having said that, a lot would be expected from Brook with regards to how he takes this leadership mantle forward as it might define his future in the England setup.
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