The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has revealed its squads for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa and the T20I series against Ireland. The English team is set to host South Africa for a series of 3 ODIs and 3 T20 matches. The ODI series will kick off on September 2nd at Headingley. Following this, England will travel to Ireland for a 3-match T20 series. A notable announcement for this series is the selection of a new captain by the ECB.
21-Year-Old Named Captain
For the South Africa series, England will field a full-strength squad, with Harry Brook leading the team. Key players such as Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root are included. However, all-format players have been given a rest for the Ireland tour. Consequently, Jacob Bethell will captain the team for the Ireland series. This marks the first time 21-year-old Jacob Bethell has been appointed captain of the England team. In Dublin, Bethell will become the youngest captain of the England men’s team in an international match.
All Test players, excluding Bethell, will be rested for the T20 series against Ireland. Marcus Trescothick will serve as the head coach for that series. Luke Wright, the selector for the England men’s team, commented that Jacob Bethell’s leadership skills have been impactful within the England setup, and the Ireland series will provide a platform for him to refine his skills on the international stage.