Ben Stokes unretires, Harry Brook left out of England provisional World Cup squad

England have announced their squads for the white-ball series against New Zealand beginning on August 30, marking the return of Ben Stokes to the ODI side one year after he retired from the format. It has since been confirmed that England’s provisional World Cup squad is the same as the group picked for the New Zealand ODIs.

England will play four T20Is and four ODIs against New Zealand between August 30-September 15. They have announced their squads for the two series, the biggest takeaway from which is the return of Test captain Stokes to the ODI team.

Stokes had announced his retirement from the ODI format in July 2022 citing an “unsustainable cricketing schedule”. However, reports emerged over the last few days that he was ready to come out of retirement in a bid to help England defend their World Cup crown.  Those reports have been substantiated as Stokes has been named in the squad for the ODIs against New Zealand.

Harry Brook, meanwhile, has been left out of the ODI squad. He has established his place in England’s Test side, averaging 62 in 12 Tests thus far, but has played just three ODIs thus far.

Brook made his ODI debut in the series against South Africa earlier this year, but didn’t feature in the ODIs against Bangladesh that followed due to his involvement in the Test series against New Zealand. He made 80 in the second ODI of that South Africa series, and also notched a memorable hundred in the Indian Premier League, but struggled in the remainder of that campaign for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Dawid Malan has been preferred to him for a middle-order berth.

The 15-member ODI squad also consists of uncapped fast bowler Gus Atkinson who has been making heads turn in the Hundred with his raw pace. Atkinson has also found a place in the T20I squad and is in line for a debut in at least one format if not both.

he T20I squad contains two other uncapped fast bowlers: Josh Tongue and John Turner. Tongue made his international debut in the second Test of the recently concluded Ashes, while 22-year-old Turner from Hampshire has been given his first international call-up.

The four T20Is will be played on August 30, September 1, September 3, and September 5, while the ODIs will be played on September 8, 10, 13, and 15.

It has since been confirmed that England’s provisional World Cup squad, which can still be changed ahead of the competition, is the same as that picked for the New Zealand ODIs.

ENG vs NZ 2023: England ODI and T20I squads and provisional World Cup squad

Squad for New Zealand ODIs and World Cup: Jos Buttler (c) (wk), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid.

T20I squad: Jos Buttler (c) (wk), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, John Turner, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood, Sam Curran, Rehan Ahmed, Adil Rashid.