England’s cricket team has bolstered its white-ball squad for the upcoming West Indies tour by adding wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox and spinner Rehan Ahmed. Both players are currently in Pakistan with the Test team, but they will transition to the ODI and T20I formats as the series against West Indies approaches.
Cox, who has been named in England’s playing XI for the decisive third Test in Rawalpindi, will return home after the first day of the match to prepare for the ODI leg of the tour. The Essex player is expected to make his ODI debut in the Caribbean, stepping in as England’s wicketkeeper following Jos Buttler’s withdrawal due to a calf injury setback. Additionally, Cox is set to participate in England’s upcoming Test series in New Zealand, potentially departing the Caribbean early for warm-up matches ahead of that tour.
Rehan Ahmed, also with the Test squad, is set to arrive in the Caribbean later than his teammate. His involvement in the third Test may delay his participation in the first ODI, scheduled for October 31 in Antigua. Ahmed, one of three wrist-spinners in England’s white-ball squad, could be considered for the T20I series following the ODIs.
The England selectors confirmed that the inclusion of Cox and Ahmed was part of their pre-planned strategy, anticipating the need for additional players. Liam Livingstone will lead the ODI squad in Buttler’s absence, and the team has also added Essex’s Michael Pepper as cover.
The West Indies tour of England comes as the West Indies struggle in their ODI series against Sri Lanka, having lost the first two matches. The tour kicks off with the first ODI on October 31 and concludes with a five-match T20I series running until November 18 in St Lucia.
England’s ODI and T20I squads include for West Indies Series
– Jos Buttler (captain, T20Is only)
– Rehan Ahmed
– Jofra Archer
– Jacob Bethell
– Jafer Chohan
– Jordan Cox
– Sam Curran
– Will Jacks
– Liam Livingstone (ODI captain)
– Saqib Mahmood
– Dan Mousley
– Jamie Overton
– Adil Rashid
– Phil Salt
– Reece Topley
– John Turner
