ENG vs WI 2nd Test: Twitter reactions as Stokes leads England fightback
Thought Stokes’ 2019 was pretty good? His 2020 aint too shabby either.
The coronavirus-enforced break has had no impact on Stokes, as the world’s premier all-rounder goes from strength-to-strength. Stokes’ numbers in 2020, after his superb all-round display at Old Trafford, have soared to new heights. His batting average is a measly 76.50, while his bowling average is a measlier 20.29, as his numbers are finally beginning to accurately depict the impact he has on matches.
What also helped England was the small matter of adding Stuart Broad to their Test XI. For a home Test. It is supposed to be a given, but wasn’t so at Southampton, as Broad joined many England fans in anger and frustration at his ommission. The 34-year-old was at his best in this Test, producing a game-changing spell on the fourth evening that was appreciated from all corners.
After Dominic Sibley sucked the life out of West Indies on the opening two days, the Windies gave us a timely but unfortunate reminder as to why they are where they are in the Test rankings. A mature, patient and disciplined display at Southampton was followed up by quite the insipid performance at Old Trafford, resorting to time-wasting tactics early on day five that showcased their poor mindset.
Now, the series heads to a decider. England are favourites, but given the inconsistencies both sides have shown, anything can happen.
Ben Stokes – best cricketer in the world?
The praise was huge for Ben Stokes, and rightly so. He is now the world’s number one ranked all-rounder in Test cricket. But, if you need more evidence of his ability, here’s one hell of a Twitter thread for your pleasure.
— Edges and Sledges ?? (@edgesandsledges) July 21, 2020
Thing that makes Stokes so Special is that he is so clever. He has all the shots, the Power, the aggression, Calmness everything Great. But his technical gifts and his ability with the ball to set batsmen up separates him. He is frighteningly good for other Teams. #ENGvWIpic.twitter.com/QL2LzhCJkR
Pretty handy to have Stuart Broad back in the side
Stuart Broad was outstanding, again showcasing just how dangerous he is with momentum behind him. He produced a classic Broad spell on the fourth evening, taking 3/1 in 14 balls to get England believing they could win. And win they did, led by Broad again on the final day.
8️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ 7️⃣0️⃣8️⃣ 6️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ 5️⃣8️⃣7️⃣ 5️⃣6️⃣3️⃣ 5️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ 4️⃣9️⃣1️⃣ Stuart Broad is Just 9️⃣ Wickets away from Completing the Incredible Landmark of 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Test Wickets. He has been Superb for ENG. Man of Outstanding Spells. Long Fingers, Scrambled Seam & Lethal with Indippers. pic.twitter.com/OD8bAhtStq
England wins the 2nd test match by 113 runs. Fantastic bowling performance by them, Stuart Broad was excellent with Ben Stokes. West Indies bowled out for 198 runs. The series is leveled now, final game gonna be fascinating. pic.twitter.com/DqFbG1SaWJ
Things got pretty bad for the West Indies after tea on the fourth day. Despite the wonderful efforts of Dom Sibley (372 balls) and Ben Stokes, Windies started well with the bat until a batting collapse led to a whole-team collapse.
Dom Sibley is 24 and this is just his 8th test match. Anyone complaining about his S/R needs to understand the labours of test cricket and appreciate his continued work on his technique. Sometimes you got to score ugly to get better over time. #ENGvWI
Stuart Broad turned the game around. Time wasting with reviews and bowling wides wasn't enough for Jason Holder's team to draw the game. Now to the decider which is unlikely to provide a result. Windies have good talent with the bat. Brooks should play ahead of Hetmyer.#ENGvsWI
The action resumes at Old Trafford on Friday for the third Test. After a poor performance, West Indies will be looking to fight back. England will be looking to continue the momentum.
Pakistan speedster Mohammad Amir is all set to join the Pakistan cricket team in England, as a replacement for Haris Rauf, who tested positive for COVID-19. Amir, who earlier pulled out of the tour owing to personal reasons, approached Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rejoin the team after the birth of his second child.
“As part of the process, both Amir and Mohammad Imran (Masseur at the National High Performance Centre) underwent Covid-19 tests on Monday and require two negative tests to be eligible to travel to the United Kingdom. If their first tests return negative, they will be moved to a bio-secure environment in Lahore where their second tests will be conducted on Wednesday, with the expected departures over the weekend,” stated the PCB’s media release.
“The departure of Shoaib Malik to England has been delayed until the second week of August after India extended the ban on international flights until 31 July, which, in turn, has delayed a planned family reunion. When Shoaib Malik will join the squad for the T20I series, which starts on 28 August in Manchester, the team management will release a player,” the press release added.
“Especially keeping in view white-ball cricket and T20 cricket, he (Amir) is a very experienced bowler and after consulting with the captain, we thought it would be right to bring Amir into the squad and it will definitely improve the strength of our squad,” Misbah said on Amir joining the squad in England.
“Very unfortunate with Harris Rauf. He has been with the squad and we are waiting for him to recover, but unfortunately, he has been repeatedly tested positive,” Misbah added.
“Rohail will stay with the squad till Amir joins us and I’m sure Rohail will gain a lot of experience by being among the guys as we have two wicket-keepers (Rizwan and Sarfaraz) in the squad already. Shoaib Malik will join the squad a little later as he needs to spend some time with the family post 31st of July. We will make sure he has enough time – at least two weeks – to be ready ahead of the T20I series. Once Malik comes in, we will decide on whom we can release as we can only have 29 players in the squad,” Misbah concluded.
Amir, who tested negative, has to undergo a couple of negative tests more before in joins the bio-secure bubble in England.
After months of speculation, the ICC has finally made a decision on the T20 World Cup, postponing the tournament until October-November 2021. The news comes as a disappointment to cricket players and lovers, particularly those of associate nations, as a global tournament is one to always look forward to.
Earlier this year, CA chairman Earl Eddings said that the tournament going ahead in 2020 was “unrealistic” and “very, very difficult.” More recently, Australia were reportedly told to prepare for the limited-overs series in England – one that Ashley Giles is “quietly confident” about – as the T20 World Cup was set to be postponed.
The main concern about hosting the tournament in 2020 was bringing the 15 other teams over, and having them quarantine appropriately ahead of a global event. Also concerning is the significant spike in cases in Victoria, as well as fears of a second wave in New South Wales.
Future of ICC Men’s Events
In Monday’s meeting, the ICC board agreed on three windows for men’s events.
First of all, the next two T20 World Cups will be played in October-November 2021 and 2022 respectively. However, it is still undecided as to which country – Australia or India – will host the events, as India was pencilled in to host the 2021 edition.
Second, the 2023 ODI World Cup has been pushed back from February-March to October-November that year, as the ICC wants more time to complete the qualification process for the event. The ICC ODI League, originally set to start in May 2020, was the qualification pathway for the tournament. However, it is been put on hold as cricket came to a halt due to the pandemic.
Door opens up for IPL 2020 to take place
The September-November 2020 window is now available for the IPL to take place. One always felt that the IPL was more likely to go ahead than the T20 World Cup this year, especially given the financial losses that the BCCI would incur if the tournament doesn’t go ahead.
Last week, the BCCI stated that the tournament is likely to go ahead in the UAE, due to the COVID-19 situation in India. President Sourav Ganguly has always stayed firm on trying to get the IPL going ahead this year, after it was postponed indefinitely after being originally postponed to April 15 (from March 29).
The BCCI have written to the Indian government granting permission for the tournament to go ahead. Now that the T20 World Cup has been postponed, all planning can be catered to staging the tournament in the September-November window.
Former ICC umpire Steve Bucknor has spoken out about the infamous 2008 Sydney Test between Australia and India.
The match is well known for its incredible finish, where Michael Clarke took three wickets in an over to seal a late win for Australia. However, the match is also well known for other reasons. First, the spate of poor decisions, particularly against India, after which then skipper Anil Kumble questioned whether the match was played in the spirit of the game. Second, the “monkeygate” spat between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh.
Steve Bucknor spoke about the match in an interview with Mid-Day, stating he made two mistakes across the five days. “I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008. Mistake one, which happened when India were doing well, allowed an Australian batsman to get a hundred. Mistake two, on day five, might have cost India the game,” Bucknor said.
Steve Bucknor chats with Mark Benson in 2008 Sydney Test
However, Bucknor defended his performance, stating that two mistakes across five days should not cause such criticism. “But still, they are two mistakes over five days. Was I the first umpire to make two mistakes in a Test? Still, those two mistakes seem to have haunted me,” continued Bucknor.
“You need to know why mistakes are made. You don’t want to make similar mistakes again. I am not giving excuses but there are times when the wind is blowing down the pitch and the sound travels with the wind. The commentators hear the nick from the stump mic but the umpires may not be sure. These are things spectators won’t know.”
The first mistake Bucknor referred to was when Andrew Symonds edged behind to an Ishant Sharma delivery, only for Bucknor to give it not out. Symonds was 30 at the time, with Australia tottering at 134/6. In the end, Symonds smashed an unbeaten 162, as Australia set an imposing first innings score of 463. The second was his decision to give Rahul Dravid out caught behind, when his gloves were clearly tucked behind his pads.
Also read:
Also read:
Australia told to prepare for England; no T20 World Cup – reports
Tests or T20s? There is a mixed opinion about this question among the cricket fanatics. Some say Test cricket is in danger due to the growing popularity of its youngest brother, while you also hear opinions that T20 is not cricket.
You can find some heated conversations in the cricket community on social media, especially on Twitter, regarding this. Fans often compare these two forms of the game and are often tagged as “Nostalgia Merchants” or “IPL Era Kids” depending on their preferences.
But do we really need to compare them? Can’t we enjoy all the formats of the beautiful game we love? After all, both formats are completely different and important. Let’s get into it and see how diverse our beautiful game is and why we should rise above this favoritism of formats and enjoy our cricket.
T20s: A Complete Package
Players throwing themselves on the field. Boundaries flying. Close encounters. Super overs. And more. This is T20 cricket for you. It attracts a lot of viewers, especially the younger audience, due to its fast-paced and action-packed nature.
Let’s get deep into T20s:
T20 globalizes the game:
Many associate and non-Test playing countries prefer playing T20s. A total of 16 teams participated in the 2016 World T20, including six associate members along with the top 10 sides. Oman gained their international status in that tournament and it was also their first-ever ICC tournament.
T20s, as mentioned, are action-packed and fast-paced. It is the favorite format of many people, thus attracting viewers around the globe. Teams like Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, etc. participated in the 2018-19 ICC T20 WC European Qualifiers, which is a great sign as more and more teams are playing the game.
Tests or T20s: Countries like Belgium are playing cricket via T20
More Opportunities
After the success of IPL and the rapid growth of T20s, every country has its own T20 league which provides a great platform for players to showcase their talent and learn from the best of the game. Also, the players benefit financially.
Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik and Krunal Pandya, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Qais Ahmad, Josh Phillipe, Tom Banton and many are the finds of T20 who have burst into the international circuit through T20 leagues and are rated very highly by the experts.
T20 has absolutely changed the way cricket was played. There was a time when 250-260 was a good total in ODIs, whereas now Rohit Sharma alone has three ODI double centuries. It’s about time that we’ll witness a total of 500+ in ODIs.
Thanks to freaks like AB de Villiers, different kinds of shots that no one ever thought of are very common in the modern era. While it’s more exciting as fans, this has made bowlers suffer too. Players are stronger, they prioritize their fitness over anything. Teams hire special coaches and fitness trainers. The level of fielding has touched another level. T20 has revamped the style of cricket and it certainly needs a different skill set.
Tests or T20s: Rohit Sharma knows how to get the massive scores.
T20s are very competitive and unpredictable
The World T20 has been played six times. India, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka, and Windies (twice) have emerged victorious. Windies and Sri Lanka, whose performances in Tests have not been that good, have won the Title. At the same time, it’s very surprising that Australia, five-time champions of the 50-over WC, are yet to win a T20 WC.
Tests: The Beauty of Cricket
Now let’s talk about the elder brother.
Test cricket is the charm of the game. It reminds us how beautiful the game we love is; arguably the pinnacle of cricket. The purest form of cricket. Despite the rapid growth of the T20s, the popularity and demand for Test Cricket is a great sign for the game.
Test of Character
Test cricket tests the character of an individual. It tests you physically as well as mentally. Batting for hours saving your wicket or bowling 30-40 overs to get wickets isn’t as easy as it sounds. It tests your grit, determination, and willpower, and the reward is always fruitful.
Not everyone is successful in Tests, especially when players are so used to playing limited-overs format. Test cricket demands patience and mental toughness. Test specialists like Cheteshwar Pujara, Dean Elgar, Marnus Labuschagne, Mohammad Abbas, and Ishant Sharma have their own significance in the T20 era. Jason Roy, who’s a gun LOI batter, hasn’t had a great start to his Test career.
Bangladesh has been playing as a full member for a long time now. They are an excellent limited-overs side but have not performed well in Tests. One reason for teams being successful in LOIs and not in Tests is the completely different skillset required, i.e. outsmarting a batsman rather than relying on a big shot to get them out.
Tests or T20s: Marnus Labuschagne’s Test performances have caught the eye of many
Excitingand rollercoaster of emotions
You must have heard that Test cricket is boring, but a batter battling it out on the fifth day to save the Test match is something else. So too Virat Kohli vs James Anderson in typical English conditions.
Kusal Perera’s magical 153* against South Africa, Ben Stokes’ heroics against Australia at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes, the 2005 Ashes Series and many more examples are there to prove that Test Cricket is as exciting as any other format. Two strong teams battling it out in sessions for five days can’t be compared to anything.
Comparing Tests and T20s is like comparing Chicken Butter Masala with Chicken Kebab despite knowing that both are very different, but at the end of the day are the varieties of the same thing. Similarly, Tests or T20s are forms of cricket and both are unique in their own way which, as fans, we should respect.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
IPL 2020 is likely to be played in the UAE, as the BCCI continues to work on all possible options to stage the tournament. The BCCI has tentatively locked in September 26-November 7 as the window for the tournament.
According to reports, the BCCI is awaiting final confirmation from the ICC that the T20 World Cup will be postponed. Also, the BCCI have written to the Indian government granting permission for the tournament to go ahead, should the World Cup be postponed.
All signs are pointing towards postponement, as Australia have reportedly been told to prepare for England, as well as the CA chairman previously stating that the World Cup is “unlikely” and “very, very difficult”.
On Friday, the BCCI’s Apex Council discussed the possibility of staging the entire tournament in the UAE. It is understood the BCCI’s preference is to hold some or all of the tournament in India, but given the COVID-19 situation, the UAE seems a safer option.
In April, the UAE wrote to the BCCI stating their willingness to host IPL 2020. “We are ready to fully support the IPL if it chooses to come and play in the UAE,” Mubashshir Usmani, ECB secretary, told ESPNcricinfo earlier this year.
“We will provide all the support concerning the protocol and government permission required to host the IPL. We are waiting for written confirmation from BCCI.”
Should the tournament go ahead in September, franchises will be required to arrive in the UAE at least a month in advance to get enough training and to cater for any quarantine measures implemented by the UAE government.
Also, November 7, the date of the Final, has been put in place so the Indian national team has enough time to travel to and prepare for the Test series in Australia, scheduled to begin on December 3. However, eyes are firmly on Melbourne and parts of Sydney, as south-east Australia is experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 cases.
Also read:
Australia told to prepare for England; no T20 World Cup – reports
Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann feels that the Indian pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah has the capability to bowl any team out.
“I thought it was incredible and I said at the time, this Indian team right now would bowl out any team in the world cheaply with this bowling attack. The way they’re bowling right now, and I stand by that it’s incredible,” said Swann.
The bowling trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami has been impressive in the recent past in countries like West Indies, Australia, England and South Africa.
Swann was also critical of England’s exclusion of star and experienced bowler Stuart Board.
“England were playing the Ashes, they wouldn’t have watched it. We were there and that was an Indian team, an Indian bowling attack in unbelievable form. Jasprit Bumrah was in incredible form in that series.I think England underestimated the West Indies, even subconsciously, and they picked the wrong team. England got their team selection wrong by dropping Stuart Broad. I will keep banging on about this. England blunted their whole bowling attack by not playing Stuart Broad,” he said on Sony Ten’s Pit Stop.
The off-spinner was all praise for Stuart Broad and his career over the years.
“I think he will forgive me for this, I’m not calling Stuart Broad a donkey, but remember, there is such a thing called donkey’s work in a Test match. A fast bowler who can bowl 25 overs a day on the spot, never bowl a bad ball, day in day out, same pace — that is Stuart Broad. He is the foil for James Anderson.”
He also believes that the return of regular captain Joe Root will enhance England’s chances in the second Test.
“That will strengthen the team, obviously. Yeah but then again, he’s in the same boat and has not played cricket for a long time. I think there is massive pressure now. They want to pick Stuart Broad now. That puts a lot of pressure on Stuart as well. He normally responds to pressure well. I don’t worry about Stuart,” he said.
The Bangladeshi trio of Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman and Tamim Iqbal were offered to play the Caribbean Premier League, but turned their respective offers down due to different reasons. The CPL is scheduled to start on August 18 in Trinidad and Tobago.
“One of the team approached me. But because of our domestic season Dhaka Premier League might start soon, I opted not to go,” Tamim was quoted by Cricbuzz. The Dhaka Premier League was supposed to be held in March but is postponed due to the spread of coronavirus pandemic. The DPL might be played in mid-August.
Mahmudullah has skipped the league due to personal reasons.
“I have played in the CPL previously and have always enjoyed my experience there. The offer I got from CPL was very good for me. I was very close to signing with one of the teams but my family is my main concern, and they are also worried about me travelling during this time,” he said.
While left-arm pacer Mustafizur has been a part of various leagues in the past but CPL feels that the national camp may begin anytime.
”I don’t know when our country’s domestic and national cricket will start again. If the corona’s intensity and severity decrease and the situation return to normal, the postponed tour or home series could start again now. I do not know when and without knowing it, if I sign a contract to play in the CPL, then it can be a big problem. My country is first priority and has to play for the country. But if I give my words to the CPL team, then they will also have a problem. If they don’t get me in the right place after making a deal with me, then they will have problem and so I said no,” Mustafizur said.
It will be the first T20 league to begin to post the COVID-19 break and includes top stars like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Ross Taylor, Chris Lynn among others are all set to grace this year’s edition.
For so long, depression was viewed as something one should “snap out of”, when in fact, it is a health issue that requires support.
For so long, speaking out about how you feel and opening up was viewed as a sign of weakness, when in fact, it is a sign of undeniable strength.
For so long, it was viewed that overcoming any worries and stresses can be done alone, when in fact, we need to reach out to a trusted mate when times are tough.
And times are tough. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with day-to-day life management, can be taxing. Stress and anxiety, particularly around the uncertain future we face, can become overpowering. How we view ourselves, particularly within the competitive juggernaut that is social media, can also harm mental health.
So, raising awareness of speaking out about any issues we face is crucial. It can’t be done alone.
How cricket is helping to raise mental health awareness
Cricket, a sport that influences the lives of billions, is making great strides in educating people that seeking help is a sign of strength. And it’s a must that we continue.
In recent times, cricketers such as Australia’s Will Pucovski and Glenn Maxwell, as well as England’s Sarah Taylor, have taken breaks from cricket on mental health grounds. In fact, Taylor, England’s great wicket-keeper-batswoman, has given up international cricket to focus on overcoming her anxiety.
We're sorry to hear England's outstanding wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has been forced to retire citing anxiety issues.
International cricketers are under constant pressure to perform. When you play all-year round with unforgiving schedules, handling the spotlight for so long can be a very arduous task. Up-and-coming cricketers are also under constant pressure, as they aim to make it to the big time. A poor performance or two on the field can have significant effects on a cricketer’s wellbeing. So, it’s crucial they know they have someone to support them.
In a great step forward, Cricket Australia (CA) is seeking a mental health overseer to join the organisation. Staff and players will get the support they need, with a focus on more one-to-one discussions where individuals can be open and honest in discussing what they are going through.
Cricket Australia is seeking to appoint a mental health overseer. 👏
This holds very true for Australian captain Tim Paine. On the Bounce Back Podcast, Paine openly spoke about one of the darkest periods of his life; how his rise, which started as a 16-year old, was then cut short by a horrific finger injury that halted his career.
”I don’t think anyone knew that I was struggling at all; not my best mates, not even my partner,” said Paine. “I remember times where I’d be sitting at home, she’d be at work, and I would literally be sitting on the couch, not balling my eyes out, but crying.
“It was weird. It was really painful; it was hard to explain, but yeah I just felt that the fact I was letting so many people down. I felt like I didn’t want to go and socialise with people; I thought that people would think less of me because I’m not scoring runs or catching. So, I become a real homebody as well.
“I tried to, as a lot of people do, deal with it internally and it just got worse, and worse, and worse and worse.
“Every time I spoke to a coach, selector or teammate, I was always ‘yeah, I’m fine, I’m good. I’m not getting many runs, but whatever. I’ll be OK, I’ll get there.’
“That almost just made it worse.”
Paine then spoke about how openly speaking about the thoughts and issues he was facing helped him feel a lot better.
“We had a sports psych over here [at Cricket Tasmania], who was also our professional development person, she doubled up as our sports psych. We just started talking”, said Paine.
“I still remember there’s a common room downstairs where the players are, and I sat in there with Emma Harris [sports psych], and it was the first time I actually told someone how I was actually feeling and what was really going on.
“I reckon I sat with her for probably only 20 minutes. I remember walking out of that room and instantly feeling better; that I’d let someone in and shared what was really going on.
That was the first step to dealing with it – admitting I needed help and addressing the situation.”
Tim Paine has done a great job as Australian captain after a tough time in his life.
How a local Australian cricket lover used cricket to raise funds for mental health
However, it’s not just the high-profile Cricket Australia going to great lengths to provide mental health support for high-profile cricketers.
Cricket is helping raise mental health awareness
The story of local Australian cricket lover and player Craig Dodson is as inspiring as it is incredible. Last cricket season, Craig set a world record by playing 11 games of cricket for 11 different clubs across Australia, while raising funds and awareness for mental health foundation Gotcha4Life, a not-for-profit organisation established by cricket tragic Gus Worland.
Craig travelled over 10,000 kms, pulling on the whites for a diverse mix of fantastic cricket clubs. He found himself trapped by a bushfire, travelling 1,600 kms one day just for a golden duck and was given a hand by greats of the game like Greg Chappell and Darren Lehmann along the way to make it all happen.
It was an epic sporting and lifetime adventure. In Craig’s words, “I made 75 runs at the poor average of 10.5. Luckily my straight breaks claimed a lot of wickets, yet I contributed SFA in the field.”
But there was an incredible story behind all this. Craig had a battle with depression a decade ago, and came out the other side. So, to raise awareness that others can also overcome their own battles, Craig embarked on an epic cricket tour to raise funds. In the end, he raised a brilliant $9,000 for the Gotcha4Life foundation.
“Along the way, I met some fantastic Australian characters and got a great snapshot of the value of community sport and the role it plays in promoting positive mental health,” said Craig.
You can check out Craig’s journey at https://www.aviewofaustraliafromfineleg.com/ and on Twitter at @fromfineleg. Also, Craig has since written a book, called “A View of Australia from Fine Leg” – a story of an average man who followed his dream and made a difference, one cricket match at a time.
All profits from the book will go to charity.
A view of Australia from fine leg
And remember, if you are facing any challenges, please do speak out about them. There are great organisations out there such as beyondblue that can help.
Cricket Australia have named an expanded 26-man squad for the proposed white-ball tour of England in September.
The tour is yet to be finalised, but discussions are ongoing between CA and the ECB. Last month, Ashley Giles, director of the England men’s cricket team, said England were “quietly confident” of hosting Australia for a limited-overs tour.
Australia has named a squad with a mix of experience and youth. Usman Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis, both of whom missed out on central contracts earlier this year, have been named in the squad. Travis Head, who missed out on selection for the 2019 World Cup, is also in the squad.
Usman Khawaja has been named in Australia’s 26-man squad
Also in the squad are rookies Daniel Sams, Josh Philippe and Riley Meredith, all of whom starred in last season’s BBL.
Selection chairman Trevos Hohns said that a bigger squad is necessary should Australia need replacements in a bio-secure environment.
“This preliminary list covers the contingencies of playing one-day internationals and T20 internationals in bio-secure hubs with the likely prospect of not being able to bring in replacements should the tour proceed,” Hohns said.
“The preliminary list includes several exciting young players who have recently excelled at state level and in the BBL. These emerging players are among those we would like to develop further as we believe they have a bright future in Australian cricket. The preliminary list also has a view towards the upcoming T20 World Cup and in the longer term the 2023 World Cup.”
Last month, Aaron Finch pinpointed a few key youngsters who could play a key role for Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup. One of them is Josh Philippe, who could get some game time in England should the opportunity present itself.
This news comes as Australia have reportedly been told to prepare for England, as the T20 World Cup is set to be postponed.
Australia preliminary 26-man squad
Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Michael Neser, Josh Philippe, Daniel Sams, D’Arcy Short, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
