GEORGE DOBELL: England will announce a 19-man squad for the Pakistan tour and the T20 World Cup which follows on Friday (September 2)
England are set to name a squad of 19 players for the T20 tour of Pakistan as they cope with a loss of fitness and form to several key players.
England will announce the group for that tour and the T20 World Cup which follows on Friday (September 2).
While the plan will have been to build for the World Cup during the seven-match series in Pakistan, England instead find themselves needing to nurse a large number of players through the next few weeks as they recover from the demands of a long season.
On the positive side, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes are set to return to the squad having undergone surgery in recent months. And while Tymal Mills, who has had an operation on a toe, is set to miss out on the Pakistan tour, he retains hopes of being named as a reserve in the World Cup squad.
Luke Wood, who has enjoyed an impressive campaign in The Hundred, is expected to be included alongside Richard Gleeson, Sam Curran and Reece Topley. Chris Jordan, who is also dealing with an injury, is expected to have recovered sufficiently to be included.
Jason Roy is set to miss out on England's T20 squad [Getty Images]
Wood, the 27-year-old left-arm seamer, has been named in England squads previously, but is yet to make his international debut. He has bowled particularly well – and particularly quickly – with the new ball in The Hundred.
There is unlikely to be a place for Jason Roy, though. He has endured a wretched run of form in recent months (he averaged 12.66 in the T20Is this summer with a strike-rate that dropped to 77.55) and looks set to miss out to Will Jacks in the Pakistan squad as a consequence.
There is no place for Alex Hales, either. He has enjoyed a decent Hundred campaign and is a hugely experienced player. But it seems England are reluctant to return to him. Now aged 33, his last chance may have gone.
Phil Salt is also sure to be included, though Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler are currently expected to open in the T20 World Cup, with Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow following them.
England also have injury concerns to Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone, though both are expected to be named in the squad, while Stokes and Bairstow are likely to be rested for at least part of the Pakistan series. In their absence, Moeen Ali is expected to captain at the start of the Pakistan tour.
The World Cup squad will consist of 15 players and three travelling reserves.