Generation next handed England one-day chance
ENGLAND have given a strong hint towards a limited-overs revolution by naming a youthful squad for the first one-day international since their dismal World Cup showing, against Ireland at Malahide, Dublin on 8 May.
The 11-man travelling party includes five players – Zafar Ansari, Sam Billings, Lewis Gregory, James Vince and David Willey – yet to be capped on the international stage in any format.
Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor is set to skipper England in the absence of first-choice captain Eoin Morgan, who has been given dispensation to continue his Indian Premier League commitments with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The clash against Ireland falls just three days after the scheduled conclusion of England’s final Test on their Caribbean tour, which rules out any of those selected by head coach Peter Moores to face the West Indies in Barbados. A number of players not involved in that match will be added to the squad following selection for the third Test, which starts on Friday.
But it is the inclusion of exciting talents such as Surrey’s Jason Roy, Vince and Billings which is likely to resonate loudest amongst England’s detractors who claim their one-day tactics are outdated and require modernisation.
Former stars Michael Vaughan and Graeme Swann have consistently called for the national side to be built around more aggressive and dynamic batsmen who are at home in the one-day arena, especially in the aftermath of England’s underwhelming World Cup group-stage exit in March. A number of the next generation look set to be handed valuable 50-over experience against Ireland as England take a first step towards the 2019 home World Cup.