Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali have been dropped from England’s upcoming matches against Australia as part of the team’s revamping efforts following disappointing performances at the ODI and T20 World Cups. The veteran players, with over 400 international appearances combined, have been replaced with new talent as interim coach Marcus Trescothick takes charge. Uncapped players like Josh Hull, Jacob Bethell, and John Turner have been called up, while Dan Mousley and Jordan Cox join the T20 squad.
While Moeen Ali has acknowledged that his international career is winding down at the age of 37, Bairstow, who turns 35 next month, shows no signs of slowing down. Despite losing his Test spot earlier this year, Bairstow played a key role in England’s white-ball success, including their 2019 World Cup victory. Chris Jordan has also been left out of the squad, while Liam Livingstone retains his T20 spot but misses out on the ODI matches. Durham seamer Brydon Carse, who recently completed a three-month ban for historical betting offenses, has also been selected.
Jofra Archer, who has seen limited cricket action since the T20 World Cup, retains his place in both squads. The T20 series against Australia will kick off shortly after England’s third and final Test against Sri Lanka. Joe Root is not included in the squad, presumably due to workload management ahead of a busy winter season. While Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes, and Mark Wood are sidelined due to injuries, fast bowler Saqib Mahmood makes a return after recovering from his own fitness issues.
The England T20 squad features Jos Buttler as captain, along with key players like Jofra Archer, Liam Livingstone, and Adil Rashid. The ODI squad, led by Jos Buttler, includes young talents like Gus Atkinson, Ben Duckett, and Jamie Smith. With an eye towards the future, England’s selectors have made significant changes to the team composition to prepare for upcoming challenges. While experienced players like Bairstow and Ali have been dropped, the focus is on integrating new talent and building a dynamic squad for the future. As England embarks on a new era of white-ball cricket, the inclusion of uncapped players signifies a shift towards rejuvenation and revitalization in the team.
