The flamboyant English all-rounder Ben Stokes has been recalled to the team for the three-match ODI series against India, having completely recovered from the hamstring tear because of which he has ruled out of the second Test against Pakistan in May, as well as the subsequent limited-overs fixtures against Scotland and Australia.
India will play the ODI series against England from July 12 at Trent Bridge, the same venue where England recorded their highest ODI total of 481 for 6 against Australia earlier this month. He can also make an early comeback in the third of England’s three T20Is against India, on July 8 at Bristol.
Despite the best all-rounder getting ruled out, Englis team whitewashed 6-0 against Australia in ODIs and T20Is this month – the England management have no doubt about Stokes’ importance to their first-choice XI.
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Ahead of the squad announcement, Paul Farbrace said, “Ben is a three-in-one player. He can bowl and he is the best fielder. You are going to bring him in as soon as he is available. It might mean another shift in your batting order but he’s not a bad bloke to be coming into your team.”
Stokes’ return affected in the exit for Sam Billings, the Kent captain who has failed to prove his worth in the squad in his intermittent outings in England’s power-packed middle-order. However, he will get a high-profile opportunity to restate his credentials when he leads Kent in the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup, against Hampshire at Lord’s on Saturday.
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England’s other notable injury absentee, Chris Woakes is yet to get recovered from a torn right quad and a long-standing knee injury. However, if he proves his fitness, he could be added to the squad during the latter part of the ODI series.
England Squad For ODI series against India:
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Mark Wood
