England are set for the T20I series against the hosts India as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the playing XI for the five-match T20I series opener, which will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22. 

It will be the first international meeting between India and England after their Semi-final meeting in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where India won by 68 runs.

See Also: Cricket Politics? BCCI Declines to Display Pakistan's Name on India's Jersey

Brendon McCullum is ready to begin his journey in white-ball coaching

For England, the five-match T20I series is the beginning of a new era as Brendon McCullum is starting his white-ball coaching role. Despite some criticism, coach McCullum's aggressive batting tactics in Test cricket are popular, and it is known as Bazball.

Top four confirms

The official playing XI announcement has confirmed that the wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt will open with Ben Duckett. Skipper Jos Buttler will bat at no. 3, and the new vice-captain Harry Brook will bat at no.4.

Gus Atkinson returns after more than a year

The team has three pacers: Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood. It will be the first international white-ball game for the 27-year-old Atkinson after December 2023. While the leg-spinner Adil Rashid will handle the spin-bowling role, he can get the support of Liam Livingstone and the left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell. Also, fast-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton is present for the important dual roles.

Eden Gardens in T20Is

Both pacers and spinners can play important roles at Eden Gardens, which is also popular for some big T20 totals. However, this T20 venue doesn’t produce regular 180+ totals. Also, dew can play an important factor in this match.

England previously played two T20Is at Eden Gardens. While they won by six wickets against the hosts India in 2011, they suffered a shocking defeat in the ICC World T20 2016 Final against West Indies, where Carlos Brathwaite smashed four successive sixes to Ben Stokes in the final over to snatch the trophy.

England playing XI for Kolkata T20I

Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (Captain), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

The ICC Champions Trophy is set to return as Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates will host the ninth edition of the tournament in 2025. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will run between February 19 and March 9. 

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Eight teams will participate

Eight teams will participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. These teams are Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan, and England. While the first four teams are in Group A, the other four teams are in Group B. Pakistan are the hosts and defending champions of the tournament. 

At the end of the Group Stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the Semi-finals of the tournament. On March 9, the two Semi-finals winners will face each other in the Final.

Here we are checking the probable complete squads for each ICC Champions Trophy 2025 team.

See Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Complete Fixtures Announced

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Probable squads

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan (Captain & wk), Fakhar Zaman/Irfan Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Sufiyan Muqeem, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi

India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube/Harshit Rana/Khaleel Ahmed

New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Will Young, Mitchell Hay (wk), Mark Chapman, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (Captain), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Lockie Ferguson

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Towhid Hridoy, Tamim Iqbal/Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (wk), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan/Jaker Ali (wk), Mushfiqur Rahman (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.

Australia: Steve Smith (Captain), Travis Head, Alex Carey (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Sean Abbott, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jhye Richardson, Spencer Johnson, Cooper Connolly

Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Nishan Madushka (wk), Charith Asalanka (Captain), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz/Matheesha Pathirana, Dunith Wellalage

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fareed Ahmad, Ikram Alikhil, Naveed Zadran.

England: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (Captain & wk), Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood

England Test captain Ben Stokes recently shared an update on his recovery journey after suffering a torn left hamstring. The injury occurred during England’s final match in New Zealand in 2024, forcing him to leave the game mid-over. Following a detailed medical scan, it was confirmed that Stokes would need at least three months to fully recover.

Stokes took to Instagram to inform his fans about the surgery. In his post, he shared a picture of himself resting in the backseat of a car, his leg in a brace and cushioned with pillows. Alongside the image, he humorously referred to himself as the “Bionic Man.” He wrote, “Surgery done. In a bit…” reassuring fans that he is on the road to recovery.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ben Stokes (@stokesy)

The injury has ruled him out of England’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy. With no Test matches scheduled until May, Stokes has a clear window to focus entirely on his rehabilitation. He remains optimistic about returning stronger and regaining his peak performance.

Speaking about the injury, Stokes expressed his determination. "Every time you step on the field, there’s a chance of injury. You can’t hold back because of fear," he told BBC Sport. He added, “It’s disappointing, but I always come back stronger from setbacks. I’ll be working hard to return to the level I was at before.”

Read Also: 7 January: A Special Day in Indian Cricket History

England is set to play a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May, followed by a five-match series against India starting in June. This timeline gives Stokes sufficient time to prepare for his comeback.

Stokes' injury resurfaced during the final Test in Hamilton, New Zealand, when he experienced a recurrence of the hamstring issue. The demands of his role as an all-rounder have taken a toll, but Stokes remains committed to pushing through challenges.

As England looks ahead to the busy cricket season, the team will undoubtedly miss their captain in tournaments like the Champions Trophy 2025.

England all-rounder and Test skipper Ben Stokes is all set to stay away from action for the next three months due to a recurring hamstring injury that resurfaced during the New Zealand series. Stokes reportedly faced discomfort during the third and final Test of the three-match series that was won handsomely by New Zealand by a whopping margin of 423 runs. After bowling a bounce during the 56th over of New Zealand's second innings, Stokes immediately felt the back of his left thigh and was forced to limp his way off the field.

However, the English captain has vowed to come back strong and expressed his strong desire to contribute to his national side's cause with "blood, sweat and tears" as described by him.

Something else to overcome…go on then!!!!!!!!

I’ve got so much more left in this tank and so much more blood sweat and tears to go through for my team and this shirt.
There’s a reason I have a Phoenix permanently inked on my body

See you on the field to fuck some shit up

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) December 23, 2024

See also:

A look at Stokes' ongoing challenges with hamstring problem

This is not the first time that a hamstring injury has caused him to be out of action. Earlier this year in the month of August, the 33-year-old ruptured his hamstring while batting for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals in the men's Hundred. He was ruled out for two months after sustaining that injury in the Hundred. 

But it did not take the start all-rounder to run into the same injury once again as a recent scan on Monday revealed by the ECB confirmed the recurrence of the tear during the New Zealand Test series. The ECB recognizes the extent of Stokes' injury and therefore arrived at a decision to exclude him from the 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy in February. 

What's next for Ben Stokes?

With so much cricket around the corner, Stokes will be forced to wait along the sidelines. The star all-rounder has yet to feature for England in the ODI format since the 2023 ODI World Cup. He will be expected to remain unavailable for the marquee Champions Trophy event in Pakistan, a tournament where Stokes' presence would have benefited the team most. 

Moreover, he will now be compelled to concede a hefty £800,000 deal with MI Cape Town in the SA20. But Stokes is likely to return to full fitness before England's next Test match against Zimbabwe at home in May 2025. 

Hosts New Zealand suffered a record margin Test defeat against England at Wellington, which ended England’s 16-year-long wait for a Test series win in New Zealand. This crucial Test series defeat also hurt New Zealand’s qualification hope for the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship final. 

Joe Root scored 36th Test century

Day three of the Wellington Test started with England’s second innings total of 378/5. Former English Test captain Joe Root climbed to the joint fifth position of most Test centuries with the legendary Indian batter Rahul Dravid by hitting his 36th Test century. 

Root and captain Ben Stokes had a 100-run partnership for the sixth wicket. After Root was gone for 106 runs in 130 balls (11 fours), Stokes declared the innings at 49 not out when England scored 427/6.

See Also: Australia bounce back in the series with 10-wicket win

England set 583-run target 

Hosts New Zealand had to chase the mammoth 583-run target in the fourth innings to win the Test and level the series. The Blackcaps lost their first four wickets for only 59 runs, as the opener Devon Conway (0), Kane Williamson (4), and Rachin Ravindra (6) were dismissed for single digits, while the other opener and skipper Tom Latham was out for 24 runs. 

Tom Blundell scored century

While Daryl Mitchell (32) and Nathan Smith (42) provided some fights, wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell hit his fifth Test century. New Zealand were all out for 259 runs, where Blundell scored 115 off 102 balls with 13 fours and five sixes. 

English captain Ben Stokes bagged three wickets in 2.2 overs after conceding only five runs. Chris Woakes (2/20), Brydon Carse (2/53), and Shoaib Bashir (2/110) got two wickets each. Gus Atkinson, who took four wickets during New Zealand’s first innings (4/31), including a hat-trick, picked up one wicket in the fourth innings (1/68).  

New Zealand suffered their largest home Test defeat

England won the Test by 323 runs. It was New Zealand’s largest home Test defeat by runs. Their previous record was losing by 299 runs against Pakistan in the 2001 Auckland Test. Meanwhile, it was the Blackcaps’ third-largest Test defeat by runs, just behind the 372-run defeat against the hosts India (2021 Wankhede Test) and the 358-run defeat against the hosts South Africa (2007 Johannesburg Test). 

England won the Test series in New Zealand after 16 years

As England are leading the three-match Test series by 2-0 with one to go, they have already secured the away Test series. Previously, England won a Test series in New Zealand in 2008 (by 2-1). While their 2013 tour ended in a draw, hosts New Zealand won the next two series in 2018 and 2019. Before the ongoing Test series, England previously toured New Zealand in 2023, which ended in a draw. Finally, England won a Test series in New Zealand after 16 years. 

The highly anticipated five-match T20I series between England and the West Indies ended in a 3-1 victory for England, with the final match being abandoned due to rain. England’s dominance was driven by standout performances from both bat and ball. Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton were exceptional with the ball, consistently dismantling the West Indies' batting order, while Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell shone in the batting department, anchoring England’s victories. The series also marked a triumphant return for Jos Buttler, who came back from injury and provided stability as a leader and batsman, underlining England's depth and resilience in white-ball cricket.  

For the West Indies, the series was marred by inconsistency and the absence of key players. Losing Andre Russell at the outset was a significant blow, and their experienced batters—Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Shai Hope, and Shimron Hetmyer—failed to deliver. Despite this, Rovman Powell and Evin Lewis showed glimpses of form, offering some respite in an otherwise lackluster batting performance. In the bowling department, Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie were relatively effective, but Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd struggled to find consistency. Ultimately, the West Indies were outplayed by a well-rounded England side, leaving them with much to ponder ahead of their next series.

See Also: Tilak Varma's consecutive centuries secure series victory for India against South Africa (3-1)

Analyzing the Top 6 batters from this series 

The England vs. West Indies T20I series saw some exceptional performances with the bat, and Phil Salt emerged as a standout player for England. In four innings, Salt amassed 162 runs at an impressive strike rate of 165.31, including a brilliant century with a highest score of 103. His boundary percentage of 71.6% reflects his dominance in power-hitting, as he smashed 14 fours and 10 sixes. Salt's ability to combine power with precision was instrumental in England's success, setting the tone for their victories.  

Rovman Powell was the bright spot for the West Indies, scoring 153 runs in four innings. With a strike rate of 133.04 and an average of 38.25, Powell showcased his ability to anchor innings while accelerating when needed. His innings of 54 stood out as a measured yet impactful contribution. Powell's boundary percentage of 64.05%, combined with 11 sixes, highlighted his knack for clearing the ropes, offering a glimmer of hope for the West Indies amidst a disappointing series.  

Jacob Bethell's performances for England were equally remarkable. In just four innings, he scored 127 runs at a phenomenal average of 127 and a strike rate of 173.97. His two half-centuries, with a top score of 62, emphasized his consistency and maturity. Bethell's boundary percentage of 64.56%, complemented by 10 fours and 7 sixes, showcased his ability to find gaps and clear boundaries at will, making him a key contributor to England's batting success.  

England skipper Jos Buttler, making a comeback from injury, delivered a strong performance with 125 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 168.92. His unbeaten 83 demonstrated his trademark aggression and timing, as he smashed 10 fours and 9 sixes. Buttler's boundary percentage of 75.2% was among the highest in the series, proving that he had not lost his touch despite a long injury layoff. His leadership, coupled with his batting form, provided England with a significant edge.  

Evin Lewis and Will Jacks also contributed to their respective sides but with contrasting styles. Lewis scored 121 runs for the West Indies at a strike rate of 161.33, relying heavily on boundaries, with 80.99% of his runs coming from fours and sixes. In contrast, Jacks managed 112 runs for England, with a focus on strike rotation, achieving a strike rotation rate of 41.07—the highest among the top performers. Their contributions, though overshadowed by their teammates, were valuable in adding depth to their lineups and maintaining the competitive edge throughout the series.

See Also: Marco Jansen’s fiery knock gives South Africa hope but falls Just 11 runs short

England Test captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes has marked himself unavailable for the mega auction for a second straight season in a row. The decision comes as the star all-rounder wants to prolong his red-ball career over franchise cricket. As per current IPL regulations, any overseas player opting out of the mega auction will automatically be ineligible for selection in the next year's IPL season. 

Such has been the case with Ben Stokes. As per the player registration list unveiled by the BCCI, there has been no mention of Stokes' name in that list which effectively keeps him out of action till 2027. 

What are these stringent measures introduced now by BCCI?

Traditionally, the BCCI offered a lot of flexibility to the overseas players to omit mega auctions and rather make inroads via mini auctions which would often result in hefty contracts. Stokes, in particular, benefitted the most from this practice. After skipping the 2022 IPL mega auction, Stokes made an entry in the 2023 IPL season and by doing so attracted a whopping contract worth Rs. 16.25 crore bid from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the mini-auction.

But as the current situation stands, such leeway is now being taken away by the governing authority. This move has been put in place to discourage overseas players from entering the mini-auction at potentially higher bids. Moreover, the screws have been further tightened by the BCCI which will now hand a two-year ban to any player who withdraws after being picked up in the auction. These measures have been reinstated in a bid to foster consistency and dependability within the franchises.

What does the future hold for Stokes & Root? 

Both Stokes and Root will miss out on the upcoming IPL season and will continue to wait on the sidelines till the year 2027. Stokes has been a key asset in the IPL marketplace with his ongoing valuation expected to range between Rs 15-20 crore. Root, on the other hand, was picked for his base price of Rs. 1 crore at the 2023 IPL auction and played three matches for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 10 runs and bowling two overs without picking a wicket. The English duo will have to enter through a likely mini-auction format as per the current regulations.   

See also: WPL 2025 retention names revealed; T20 WC winner released

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the 16-member men’s Test squad for next month’s New Zealand tour. 

After the West Indies tour, where England will play a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series against the hosts, England will play a three-match Test series against the hosts New Zealand. It will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. So, it will be an important series for both teams.

The Test series in New Zealand will begin on November 28 at Christchurch. Wellington and Hamilton will host the next two Tests, starting on December 6 and 14, respectively. 

Jacob Bethell earns Test call-up

The 21-year-old Jacob Bethell has earned the Test call-up as he is replacing Jamie Smith, who is unavailable for the selection due to paternity leave. Bethell recently made his ODI and T20I debuts at home during Australia tour of England last September. 

During the Cardiff T20I against Australia, Bethell played a crucial 44 off just 24 balls, which helped the hosts to successfully reach the 194-run target.

In his first two ODIs, Bethell produced some useful all-round performances. In the five ODIs, he scored 85 runs and took four wickets.    

Bethell has played 20 first-class matches

However, talking about his Test cricket call-up, the youngster Bethell has played 20 first-class matches, where the left-handed batter has scored 738 runs with an average of 25.44. He has scored five half-centuries and waiting for his maiden first-class hundred. As a left-arm spinner, he has taken seven first-class wickets. 

England Test squad for New Zealand tour

Ben Stokes (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes

English white-ball captain Jos Buttler’s frustrating recovery process continues as he is set to miss the ODI series in the West Indies tour, starting on October 31. 

The 34-year-old Jos Buttler hasn’t played a match since the semi-final defeat against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 last June. During his preparation ahead of the Hundred, he got a calf injury. 

Jos Buttler missed out on two home white-ball series

Due to the injury, Buttler missed the entire Hundred along with the home white-ball series against Australia, where they played three T20Is and five ODIs. 

After the ongoing three-match Test series against the hosts Pakistan, which is a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship, England will travel to the West Indies for a three-match ODI series and five-match T20I series. 

The ODI series will begin on October 31. North Sound will host the first two ODIs, as the second ODI has been scheduled for November 2. Bridgetown will host the last ODI on November 6.

Bridgetown will also host the first two T20Is on November 10 and 11. Gros Islet will then host the last three fixtures of the T20I series on November 15, 17, and 18. 

ECB announced Buttler's replacement

Although Bullter was expected to be available for the complete West Indies tour, it is now revealed that the white-ball captain will miss the ODI series. In his rehabilitation, Buttler suffered a slight setback. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Michael Pepper has replaced Jos Buttler in the ODI squad. 

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that Buttler will be available for the T20I series in the West Indies. 

In the absence of Buttler, Phil Salt led the English team in the home T20I series against Australia, and Harry Brook was the English ODI captain against Australia. 

Liam Livingstone will lead the English ODI team in the upcoming West Indies tour. The ECB will add about two players for the West Indies tour after the team selection of the Rawalpindi Test, starting on October 24.

Hosts Pakistan suffered a horrible defeat against England in the Multan Test, which was played on a batting-friendly pitch. The cricket world is surprised by the ultimate result of the match, which the visitors England celebrated. 

After winning the toss in the three-match Test series opener, Pakistan scored 556 runs with the help of three centuries. Abdullah Shafique (102), Shan Masood (151), and Salman Agha (104*) scored centuries in that innings.

In reply, England scored the fourth-highest Test innings total of 823/7 (declare), majorly thanks to the record fourth-wicket partnership of 454 runs between Joe Root and Harry Brook. Root scored 262 runs, while Brook scored 317 runs. 

SEE ALSO: Harry Brook records second fastest triple century in Test

England won by an innings and 47 runs

Pakistan started their second innings by trailing 267 runs. The hosts were all out for only 220 runs, where Jack Leach (4/30) picked up four wickets. Among the Pakistan batters, only the lower-order batters Salman Agha (63) and Aamer Jamal (55*) reached the 30-run mark in the second innings.

England ultimately won the match by an innings and 47 runs and have taken the Test series lead by 1-0. 

Here are some shocking facts about the match. 

First time in Test cricket history

Pakistan became the first team to lose a Test match by an innings after scoring at least 500 runs in a Test innings. It also means that England became the first team to win a Test match by an innings after conceding 500 runs in an innings

Highest total in a losing cause

Pakistan's 556 all out became the joint fifth-highest total in a Test innings which ended in a losing cause. 

Highest totals in a losing cause

Highest aggregated total in a losing cause

Pakistan scored 556 and 220 runs in the Test match, which made their aggregated score of 776 runs in the Test match. Pakistan’s 776 runs became the joint seventh-highest aggregated Test score for a team that ended in a defeat.

Highest aggregated Test totals in a losing cause