Joe Root left out of South Africa T20Is as Pat Brown, Tom Banton and Saqib Mahmood called up
England has handed maiden call-ups to Pat Brown, Tom Banton, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson for the three-match ODI series against South Africa. However, the board has chosen to leave out Test captain Joe Root from the three-match T20I series in the same tour in February next year.
Though Root was one among several senior players rested for the five-match T20I tour of New Zealand last month, he had not been selected for the T20 leg of South Africa tour, unlike the others. England has a host of other top-order players like the in-form of Dawid Malan, who averages 57.25 in T20I cricket.Ā
"These two squads were selected with an eye on the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020. In the T20s, a number of players who were rested for the successful 3-2 victory in New Zealand return to the squad. We want to expand the pool of players who can perform successfully for England, while also helping the team to peak for major tournaments," said national selector Ed Smith said, reported Cricbuzz.Ā
While Banton, Sam Billings, Lewis Gregory, Mahmood and James Vince, who was involved in the 3-2 victory last month against the Blackcaps, have been dropped for the South Africa series. Banton and Mahmood have, however, made it to the 16-man squad for the ODIs. Including Parkinson and Brown as well, the squad now has four uncapped 50-over players selected.
The ODI leg of the series will begin in Cape Town on February 4, while the T20 series will begin in East London on the 12th. Senior players Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood will sit out the ODI series before returning for the T20s.