Root (left) and Stokes will play no part in the Twenty20 series against South Africa
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
England have called up five uncapped players for the three-match Twenty20 series against South Africa after opting to rest five regular faces, including batsman Joe Root and all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Other than Root and Stokes, all-rounder Moeen Ali, spinner Adil Rashid and pace bowler Jake Ball will also miss the series.
They will, however, represent their respective counties in the first round of day-night County Championship matches.
As a result, the uncapped quintet of Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane, Lancashire batsman Liam Livingstone, Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan, Somerset seamer Craig Overton and Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran have been drafted into the side. Overton, however, will only be in the squad for the last two games of the series.
Pace bowler Mark Wood will only be available for the first game, while batsman Jonny Bairstow will be in the side for the first two matches.
“The T20 series against South Africa presents us with an opportunity to incorporate several players who have come through the talent pathway into the senior group,” national selector James Whitaker said. “The squad has an exciting blend of youth and experience and we are looking forward to a competitive series against strong opposition.
“With five uncapped players selected, there is undoubted talent coming through the system and we are excited to see some of these players showcase their skills at the highest level.
“Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tom Curran and Craig Overton have impressed for the England Lions over the past 12 months and have transferred their skills across all formats, in particular with their respective counties.
“Young leg-spinner Mason Crane is another player with great promise and he has made great strides with Hampshire this season and has added to his experience with stints in the North-South Series earlier in the season, where he took crucial wickets and even earned selection for New South Wales in Australia’s premier domestic competition the Sheffield Shield.”
The three-match Twenty20 series begins on June 21 in Southampton.
England T20 Squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow (first two matches of series), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton (last two matches of series), Liam Plunkett, Jason Roy, David Willey, Mark Wood (first match of series)
There are no surprises in the England team anymore. All players must go through the Lions set-up. Malan had to be selected based on his performances for the Lions and South v North. If he hadn’t been picked then questions would’ve been asked about the point of North v South. Stoneman has to go in the Lions rather than a ‘surprise’ call up to the full squad and Footitt has no chance which is unfair because England have randomly selected George Garton to nurture him into England’s Mitchell Starc. Liam Livingstone provides a good example to players that were told they weren’t good enough or didn’t break into the county scene in their teens.