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Unprecedented! England name all new 18-man squad for Pakistan ODIs after COVID-19 scare

By Siddharth vishwanathan | Jul 6, 2021 | 2 Min Read

The coronavirus scare in the England camp has seen some unprecedented developments. After the end of the Bristol ODI, seven members of the England cricket team have tested positive for the coronavirus. Three players and four backroom staff members are infected with COVID-19. All the other players in the squad have been deemed close contact and will miss the ODIs against Pakistan. Ben Stokes will lead the team and there has been a new 18-member squad for the three ODIs against Pakistan.

Stokes will be captaining the side for the first time in his career. With regard to the latest developments, the England Cricket Board has assured that the series will continue. The Pakistan Cricket Board has also expressed satisfaction that the safety protocols in place are good.

“The PCB is satisfied by the assurances and guarantees provided by the ECB on behalf of its medical panel. It feels comfortable with the existing protocols that have been put in place,” the PCB said in a statement.

Nine uncapped players in the England team

With so much havoc caused by the coronavirus, there was some banter between two veterans of England cricket. Stuart Broad and James Anderson were involved in a funny banter on Twitter. With an entire new squad, Broad asked Anderson whether he still had his ODI cap. The squad features nine uncapped players.

These players are Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Lewis Gregory, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Phil Salt and John Simpson. Lawrence and Crawley have had experience in the Test set-up. Craig Overton and Jake Ball have played in the Ashes. Only Ben Stokes, James Vince, Dawid Malan have had good international experience.

David Payne is a left-arm spinner from Gloucestershire. John Simpson is a wicketkeeper from Middlesex. Lewis Gregory has played eight T20Is and represents Somerset. Danny Briggs, who last played an international in 2014, makes his comeback after seven years. Phil Salt is a right-hand batsman who plays for Sussex. Brydon Carse is a right-hand fast bowler who plays for Durham. There is still no place for Alex Hales, who has not played any cricket for England since charges of assault and a dope test failure in 2018.

England 18-man squad against Pakistan

Ben Stokes, Jake Ball, Danny Briggs, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Daniel Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Phil Salt, John Simpson, James Vince