Stokes out of England's Champions Trophy squad
England test captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of next year's Champions Trophy one-day international tournament in Pakistan and the preceding white-ball tour of India, team management announced on Sunday.
Ben Stokes left out of England's ODI squad for the forthcoming tour of India and the ICC Men's Champions Trophy ❌
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) December 22, 2024
Joe Root included in ODI squad for the first time since the World Cup last year but isn't in the T20 squad to face India 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/l54lljRL7u
The 33-year-old star allrounder was not considered after damaging a hamstring during England's defeat by New Zealand in the third test at Hamilton earlier this month.
"Durham allrounder Ben Stokes was not considered for selection as he continues to be assessed following a left hamstring injury sustained," said an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.
Stokes did not bat in the second innings of that match as England slumped to a 423-run defeat – a result that meant his side still won a three-match series 2-1.
He previously missed this year's home series against Sri Lanka and the first test in Pakistan due to hamstring issues.
With England facing a five-match test series at home to India starting in June before their pinnacle 2025/26 Ashes tour of Australia, team management have decided against risking inspirational red-ball skipper Stokes.
Key batsman Joe Root, who preceded Stokes as test captain, returns to the ODI side for the first time since the 2023 World Cup in India.
Fast bowler Mark Wood, who missed the recent test tours of both Pakistan and New Zealand, with a bone-stress injury to his right elbow, is in both squads.
The India series and Champions Trophy will mark England's first limited-overs tour and tournament under coach Brendon McCullum, previously just in charge of the test side.
BUTTLER STAYS AS CAPTAIN
Jos Buttler, who missed the recent ODI series against the West Indies with a calf injury, remains captain of the two white-ball teams despite England surrendering both their 50-over and T20 world titles since November 2023.
But it is possible the dashing batsman, replaced as skipper in the Caribbean by allrounder Liam Livingstone, may not keep wicket, as he has for much of his limited-overs career.
Both the ODI squad for the India tour and the Champions Trophy, as well as the squad for five T20s in India in January, feature two other wicketkeepers in test gloveman Jamie Smith, who missed the New Zealand series to attend the birth of his first child, and Phil Salt.
🚨 𝑩𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 🚨
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) December 22, 2024
England have announced their squad for the upcoming ODI series in India and the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan 🏴🔥
Joe Root returns to the side for the first time since the ODI World Cup 2023, while Ben Stokes was not considered for selection 🏏… pic.twitter.com/Eyqf4V6XXy
Meanwhile, 21-year-old rising star Jacob Bethell, who marked his debut test series with three fifties in New Zealand, is included in both squads.
Legspinner Rehan Ahmed joins the T20 squad, while Root is selected only for the ODIs.
The tour party leaves for India on January 17, with the first match of a five-game series against T20 world champions India in Kolkata on January 22.
India and England will then play a three-match ODI series, in preparation for the Champions Trophy, starting in Nagpur on February 6.
Match dates for the Champions Trophy, which also features Pakistan as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, have yet to be announced, with the tournament due to run from February 19 to March 9.
England ODI squad for India tour and 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan:
Jos Buttler (capt/wkt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wkt), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wkt), Mark Wood
Note: Rehan Ahmed to join squad for T20 series in India with Root not involved
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