England named fast bowler Mark Wood in their 15-man squad for a one-day series against South Africa and the Champions Trophy. Wood returns to the squad after missing the tour of India following an ankle surgery. Wood made it to the squad after an intense fitness programme during which he had his third ankle operation.
The Champions Trophy is being held in England and Wales from 1-18 June. With games at Edgbaston, Cardiff and The Oval, England have selected a fiery squad with five pace bowlers and are hoping to win their first Champions trophy title.
Liam Plunkett has also been included despite injuring his calf while playing for Yorkshire. The 15-man squad will also take on South Africa in a three-match series before the Champions Trophy.
England’s season will begin with the games against Ireland at Bristol and Lord’s on May 5 and 7. Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes will not feature in those games due to their involvement in the Indian Premier League.
The captain Eoin Morgan, the wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings, and Jason Roy will return for those games, with Steven Finn and Northamptonshire batsman Ben Duckett selected as cover. The selectors have resisted the temptation to take a look at Lancashire’s rising star Liam Livingstone, the Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan or the Surrey prospect Tom Curran, but Duckett has been offered a first chance on home soil. He made two ODI half-centuries on his maiden tour against Bangladesh, but his form collapsed in Tests against the Tigers and India. He and Finn will now be seen as first reserves for a Champions Trophy shot should injuries arise.
England squad for Champions Trophy and South Africa series:
E Morgan (Middx, capt), M Ali (Worcs), J Bairstow (Yorks), J Ball (Notts), S Billings (Kent), J Buttler (Lancs), A Hales (Notts), L Plunkett (Yorks), A Rashid (Yorks), J Root (Yorks), J Roy (Surrey), B Stokes (Durham), D Willey (Yorks), C Woakes (Warwicks), M Wood (Durham).
England squad for Ireland series:
E Morgan (Middx, capt), M Ali (Worcs), J Bairstow (Yorks), J Ball (Notts), S Billings (Kent), B Duckett (Northants), S Finn (Middx), A Hales (Notts), L Plunkett (Yorks), A Rashid (Yorks), J Root (Yorks), J Roy (Surrey), D Willey (Yorks), (Warwicks), M Wood (Durham).
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