LONDON: England Test captain Joe Root has been left out of the Twenty20 squad for the three-match series against Australia but will return for the three One-day Internationals, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.

All-rounder Ben Stokes, who missed the last two Test matches against Pakistan to visit his father who was diagnosed with brain cancer, has been omitted from both squads.

Opening batsman Jason Roy, who missed the T20 series against Pakistan due to a side strain, has been left out of the T20 squad but will remain with the squad as he bids to recover for the ODI series.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Jos Buttler and fast bowlers Jofra Archer, Sam Curran and Mark Wood have been named in both squads.

“These two series against Australia provide an exciting end to the summer. We have selected strong squads. We are also continuing to develop depth in preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cups,” national selector Ed Smith said.

There was no place in either squad for all-rounder David Willey, despite the left-arm paceman being England’s man-of-the-series in their 2-1 One-day International campaign win over Ireland earlier this month.

This was more England heartache for Willey, who was dropped shortly before last year’s World Cup triumph after Archer was called up in his place.

The upcoming three-match T20 series will be played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, with the first game scheduled for Friday. The three ODIs take place from Sept 11 to 16 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Squads:

T20: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Reserves: Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood.

ODI: Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Archer, Bairstow, Banton, Billings, Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Wood.

Reserves: Joe Denly, Saqib Mahmood.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2020