Opener Zak Crawley will be captaining England for the first time in ODIs when a second-string England team takes on Ireland in a 3-ODI series in September just before World Cup 2023. Crawley’s Test opening partner Ben Duckett will be the vice-captain for this series.
England will play 7 ODIs this month – 4 ODIs vs New Zealand followed by 3 ODIs vs Ireland – before they play their warm-up matches from September 30.
While a full-strength England team captained by Jos Buttler will face New Zealand in the 4-ODI series from September 8 to 15, a second-string unit will host the Ireland team from September 20 to 26.
Zak Crawley, who recently starred in the Ashes 2023, will lead his country’s senior men’s side for the first time in ODI cricket against Ireland. None of the 15 players who have been picked in England’s provisional 15-man squad for the World Cup will feature in the series against Ireland.
In this second-string squad to face Ireland, the uncapped trio of Sam Hain, George Scrimshaw and Jamie Smith could make their debuts.
After a terrific year and a half in the Test team, England hopes for Zak Crawley, who has played in only 3 ODIs, to get more game time in the ODI format as the 25-year-old has immense potential. Plus, there could be a 2-3 vacancies in the ODI side after the World Cup 2023 concludes.
The WC 2023 is all but certain to be the last ODI WC for the 33-year-old Jason Roy and 36-year-old Dawid Malan, while Ben Stokes is also unlikely to continue in ODIs post this year’s World Cup.
Will Jacks and Phil Salt, two other opening position contenders, also feature to face Ireland. In the pace-bowling department Luke Wood, Craig Overton, and Matthew Potts have earned call-ups.
England squad vs Ireland:
Zak Crawley (captain), Ben Duckett (vice-captain), Rehan Ahmed, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Hain, Will Jacks, Craig Overton, Matthew Potts, Phil Salt, George Scrimshaw, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood
England vs Ireland Schedule:
September 20 – 1st ODI, Headingley
September 23 – 2nd ODI, Trent Bridge
September 26 – 3rd ODI, Bristol
