England has been trying out different options for captaincy in limited overs cricket, all thanks to Jose ButlerJos Buttler’s persistent calf injury has kept him out of action since England’s 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India in Guyana in late June.
Due to his recovery from a calf injury, the England captain missed The Hundred 2024 and was also ruled out of the T20I series against Australia.
He is still recovering from a calf injury and was also not selected for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia.
Jos Buttler’s absence has created an opportunity for Liam Livingstone to return to the ODI squad after being previously overlooked.
Earlier, his calf injury handed Phil Salt the big opportunity to lead England in the T20I series, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Australia.
Harry Brook takes over as ODI captain for Australia series as Jos Buttler’s calf injury persists
Now, with Jos Buttler out for the rest of the summer due to a calf injury sustained in July, the big opportunity fell into Harry Brook’s lap as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) elevated the talented batsman to captain for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia at home.
The 25-year-old batsman is set to lead England for the first time in ODI cricket, despite having played just 15 games in the game’s 50-overs format.
Brook himself recently admitted that he is still adjusting to the challenges of ODI cricket, but the ECB is keen to invest in him.
However, Brook’s leadership potential has been evident for years, having captained England’s Under-19 side during the 2018 World Cup.
He has been steadily gaining leadership experience, including captaining Yorkshire for four matches in the 2022 T20 Blast and leading the Northern Superchargers in this year’s Hundred.
Under his captaincy, the Northern Superchargers won five of their six completed matches and narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout stages of The Hundred 2024.
Additionally, Brook has been a key part of England’s leadership group in Test cricket, serving as vice-captain to Ollie Pope during the recent 2-1 series win against Sri Lanka.
Harry Brook is a really good thinker: Jos Buttler
England cricket management are grooming Brook for a long-term leadership role and see him as a vital part of their plans.
Meanwhile, the ECB has announced that young fast bowler Josh Hull, who recently made his international debut in the final Test against Sri Lanka, has been withdrawn from the ODI squad due to a quadriceps injury.
On Brook’s appointment as England’s interim ODI captain, Jos Buttler said: “It will be a great opportunity for Brooky to be the captain. He’s quite a laid-back character, but I think he’s got everything under control. He’s very good at thinking about it… I’m sure he’ll do it in his own way and get comfortable with those moments.” [in games].
That’s what we encourage everyone as a team, whether it’s a player or a captain, to try to identify those moments that they think can be of great help to winning the game, go for it and commit to it.”
Notably, the five-match ODI series is scheduled to begin on September 19 at Trent Bridge.
Here is England’s squad for the ODIs in Australia:
Harry Brook (centre), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith and John Turner.
