Ben Stokes back in the England squad for the T20I series

Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow who were a part of the England squad in the recently concluded Ashes have been rested for the T20 Internationals while Sam Billings, Mark Wood, and James Vince have been included in the squad for the shortest format. England is scheduled to play a T20I tri-series involving New Zealand and Australia. Losing four out of the five Tests, the Englishmen are low in confidence ahead of the limited-overs fixtures.

Vince who scored a couple of half-centuries in the five Tests has been picked in the sixteen member squad for the T20Is. The English selectors have entrusted their faith in him to come good in the coloured uniform. The number three batsman couldn’t convert his starts into scores of substance. Apart from the two fifties, he couldn’t cross the 25-run mark in the rest of the innings.

Moeen Ali and Bairstow rested

On the other hand, England cricket team’s veteran all-rounder, Moeen Ali has been rested for the series. However, he is a part of the ODI squad. Same is the case with the wicketkeeper-batsman, Bairstow. Moeen hasn’t been at his best, in either trades. Meanwhile, Bairstow scored 306 runs including one century in the Ashes.

England will depend on the inform batsmen, Joe Root and Dawid Malan who have been scoring most of the runs for England in the Tests. “We felt with that it was important for Dawid Malan and Joe Root, who have had an intense period of Test cricket over the past few months, to play in the series and continue to develop their T20 experience and skills,” the head of the selection committee said.

Stokes part of the 16-member squad

Ben Stokes has also been included in the sixteen member squad but his availability will depend on how things pan out in the case that is under investigation against him. Regular limited-overs skipper, Eoin Morgan will lead the side in both the ODIs and T20Is. England will play five ODI games and one T20 practice game ahead of the tri-series starting the 3rd of February.

“Should the ECB Board receive formal confirmation that Stokes has either been charged or that he will face no charges, they would convene within 48 hours to make a decision on his availability for the team at that stage,” the statement from ECB read.

16 member squad for T20I series:

Eoin Morgan (C), Sam Billings (wk), Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood