Harry Brook is set to captain England for the first time in the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia. This comes after regular skipper Jos Buttler was ruled out for the remainder of the summer due to a calf injury sustained in July.
Buttler’s absence has opened the door for Liam Livingstone, who has been recalled to the 50-over side after initially being left out.
Brook, a player long groomed as a future England captain, has previously led teams at the Under-19 World Cup and in domestic tournaments like the T20 Blast and The Hundred. He steps into the role as a highly regarded leader, having been vice-captain during England’s recent Test series win against Sri Lanka.
“It’s a great opportunity for Brooky,” Buttler said, expressing confidence in Brook’s leadership ability. “He’s a laid-back character, but he’s a good thinker of the game. He’ll bring his own style to the captaincy.”
However, Buttler’s injury remains a concern, especially given his history with calf problems. He previously missed significant matches in 2021 and 2022 due to similar issues. Despite this setback, Buttler remains optimistic about returning for England’s tour of the Caribbean in November.
As for Livingstone, his return to the squad comes after standout performances in the first two T20Is against Australia, where he took five wickets in six overs and hit 87 off 47 balls to help secure a victory in Cardiff.
Josh Hull, however, will miss the ODI series after sustaining a quad injury during his Test debut. His absence is seen as precautionary, with the injury unlikely to impact his participation in England’s Test tour of Pakistan in October.
The five-match ODI series against Australia kicks off on Thursday at Trent Bridge and runs until September 29.
England ODI squad: Harry Brook (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, John Turner.
