LONDON: All-rounder Ben Stokes was left out and fast bowler Tymal Mills brought back by England in their Twenty20 World Cup squad on Thursday.
Stokes is taking an indefinite break from cricket to manage his mental health and recover from a finger he broke in April. He came back in July to captain a scratch England team to a remarkable 3-0 win over Pakistan while the senior players were isolating during a coronavirus outbreak.
His absence is a blow to England’s chances of adding the 20-over world title to the 50-over world title he helped them win in 2019.
England has until Oct 10 to finalise their 15-man squad and head coach Chris Silverwood said this week he’ll leave it as late as possible to check on Stokes’ availability for the tournament in the UAE and Oman. But if he changes his mind, he is not expected to be included unless there’s an injury.
Meanwhile, Mills was included despite last playing for England in February 2017. He’s effectively in for Jofra Archer, who is out for the year after elbow surgery.
Liam Livingstone has been included after scoring an England T20 record 42-ball hundred against Pakistan this season but while as expected, there is no place for Test skipper Joe Root in the 15-man squad.
As part of their build-up to the tournament, England are scheduled to play four warm-up matches, including a two-match T20 International series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2021
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