England announce Champions Trophy squad: Joe Root and Jamie Overton in, Ben Stokes and Surrey trio miss out

England have named their 15-man squad for the upcoming white-ball series in India and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Current Test coach Brendon McCullum is set to take charge of the limited-overs set-up for the first time, with five T20 internationals and three ODIs against India first up in January before the ICC event gets underway in Pakistan in February.

After a couple of humbling Test series defeats in India and Pakistan this year put paid to England’s hopes of making the ICC World Test Championship final, the Three Lions will now seek a better showing in the limited-overs format.

Sports News Blitz writer Dom Harris is here with the details of the squad announcement.

Inclusions

Joe Root, the top-ranked batter in Test cricket and with 171 ODI caps to his name, is included in a white-ball squad for the first time since the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

After regularly impressing for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, Jamie Overton is selected to fill the all-rounder void.

Mark Wood has recovered from an elbow injury to complete an exciting pace-quartet that also includes Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse.

In a further bolstering of the bowling attack, Saqib Mahmood gets the nod after impressing against West Indies last month.

Jacob Bethell has quickly established himself as an all-format regular, and his presence adds much-needed flexibility to the middle order.

At the top of the order, Phil Salt and Ben Duckett are chosen as the preferred pairing.

Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith makes the cut despite missing the recent Test series win in New Zealand due to the birth of his son.

And with Root only down for ODI cricket, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed is added in his place for the T20 leg of the India tour.

READ MORE: Five things we learnt from the third and final Test between New Zealand and England

Omissions

Ben Stokes unfortunately misses out following his latest injury setback, suffered during the final Test against New Zealand in Hamilton.

There is also no room for Surrey star Sam Curran, who has struggled for consistency in an England shirt since playing a key role in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup success.

On the back of an injury sustained in the Caribbean, Curran’s Surrey teammate Reece Topley is not considered.

Will Jacks is yet another notable Surrey omission, with the explosive opening batter yet to replicate his domestic form at international level

Finally, the decision to opt for consistency in preparation for the Champions Trophy means that there is no opportunity for the likes of all-rounder Dan Mousley and quick bowlers Matthew Potts and John Turner.

England squad

Jos Buttler (c), Rehan Ahmed (T20 only), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root (ODI only), Phil Salt (wk), Jamie Smith, Mark Wood

Likely England playing XI

Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid

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