England’s T20 World Cup squad announcement has seen Somerset’s Tom Banton included, while Jamie Smith has been surprisingly dropped. Despite Smith’s proven T20 capabilities, his recent dip in form during the Ashes and struggles behind the stumps have likely influenced the decision. Notably, both the injured Jofra Archer and uncapped fast bowler Josh Tongue have been retained in the squad.
Jamie Smith, who scored an impressive 60 off 26 balls against the West Indies in June, was rested after a rigorous schedule but failed to regain form during England’s Test series in Australia, averaging just 19.85. This slump has cost him his place in the squad.
Conversely, Josh Tongue’s stock has risen sharply. Although he has not yet played white-ball cricket for England, Tongue was the leading wicket-taker in last season’s Hundred, claiming 14 wickets in six games and maintains a remarkable T20 strike rate of a wicket every 12.5 balls.
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Jofra Archer remains part of the 16-man squad despite a left-side strain expected to sideline him for 3 to 6 weeks. Archer’s recovery coincides with the start of the tournament, prompting Brydon Carse to serve as his backup. Carse will travel with the England ODI and T20 squads for the bilateral tour of Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup, ready to step in if necessary.
Test opener Zak Crawley has been included in the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour, despite having not played List A cricket since December 2023. Meanwhile, Ben Duckett retains his place following a challenging Ashes series and a controversial social media incident. His proficiency against spin bowling makes him a valuable asset for subcontinental conditions.
Captain Harry Brook will lead England in his debut World Cup campaign, supported by a strong core including Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, and Luke Wood. The squad also welcomes all-rounder Jamie Overton, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, and batter Tom Banton.
Kent’s Jordan Cox narrowly missed the squad and stands as a first reserve in case of any last-minute changes.
England faces Bangladesh, West Indies, Italy, and Nepal in Group C. Managing director Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum are optimistic that a strong World Cup performance will help restore confidence after the recent Ashes disappointment.
England T20 World Cup Squad (including Sri Lanka tour): H Brook (c), R Ahmed, J Archer (WC only), T Banton, J Bethell, J Buttler, B Carse (SL only), S Curran, L Dawson, B Duckett, W Jacks, J Overton, A Rashid, P Salt, J Tongue, L Wood.
England ODI Squad v Sri Lanka: H Brook (c), R Ahmed, T Banton, J Bethell, J Buttler, B Carse, Z Crawley, S Curran, L Dawson, B Duckett, W Jacks, J Overton, A Rashid, J Root, L Wood.