England have sprung a shock by naming fit-again Jamie Smith as their new quantity three batter and wicketkeeper for his or her Champions Trophy opener in opposition to Australia on Saturday.
Smith was tipped to be behind the stumps at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium after donning the gloves in England’s previous two coaching classes, with Phil Salt relegated to practising his outfield catching.
Whereas that has now been confirmed as England named their XI two days out, with Salt retaining his spot as opener alongside Ben Duckett, it’s the promotion to first drop of Smith that’s particularly eye-catching.
The 24-year-old, who missed England’s final two T20s in opposition to India and the three-match ODI sequence owing to a left calf damage, has by no means batted greater than the quantity 5 place in internationals.
But he has been bumped up the order, with Yorkshire pair Joe Root and Harry Brook, captain Jos Buttler and all-rounder Liam Livingstone every falling a spot as England reinforce a batting line-up that struggled to cope with India’s spinners in a tour the place they received simply considered one of eight white-ball matches.
Brydon Carse has been handed match following a toe damage that noticed him miss the final two ODIs in opposition to India and he joins Jofra Archer and Mark Wooden as a part of a three-prong tempo assault.
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