England call up Crane and rest Archer for Pakistan series
Mason Crane returns to England's squad after eight years for the Pakistan tri-series, while Jofra Archer is rested and Sam Curran returns.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Leg-spinner Mason Crane returns to England's squad after an eight-year absence.
- Jofra Archer is rested as part of England's winter fast-bowling management.
- Sam Curran and Adil Rashid both return to the team following injuries.
- England will face Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a one-day international tri-series.
Leg-spinner Mason Crane could make his first appearance for England in eight years after earning a recall for the upcoming one-day international tri-series in Pakistan, which also features Sri Lanka next month.
The 29-year-old earned his sole Test cap against Australia in Sydney back in 2018 and now receives a fresh opportunity in the squad, while also bolstering his bid to become England's premier spin bowler in Test cricket following his two T20 international appearances in 2017.
The squad announcement features returns for Sam Curran and Adil Rashid after recovering from injuries, alongside uncapped duo James Coles and Henry Crocombe. Meanwhile, Jos Buttler remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained last week, Jacob Bethell continues recovering from knee surgery, and Brydon Carse stays absent due to an ongoing investigation.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The complete England squad for the tri-series in Pakistan includes the following players:
- Harry Brook (Yorkshire – captain)
- Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
- Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
- Tom Banton (Somerset)
- James Coles (Sussex)
- Jordan Cox (Essex)
- Mason Crane (Glamorgan)
- Henry Crocombe (Sussex)
- Sam Curran (Surrey)
- Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
- Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
- Will Jacks (Surrey)
- Jamie Overton (Surrey)
- Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
- Joe Root (Yorkshire)
- Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
The decision to recall Glamorgan's Crane highlights the coaching staff's proactive approach to resolving spin-bowling uncertainties ahead of next year's 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. By implementing a clear rotation policy for both players and coaching personnel, England aims to maintain peak performance levels across multiple international formats throughout the demanding winter season.
Jofra Archer, an automatic first-choice selection across all three formats, has been omitted from the Pakistan tour as a clear measure of how England intends to manage its pace-bowling assets during the winter months. Head coach Brendon McCullum has previously hinted that other fast bowlers could similarly skip upcoming fixtures to arrive fresh for the three-Test series in South Africa this December.
"Mason Crane has played one Test and two T20s for England"
BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport
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