The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday unveiled their squads for the upcoming third T20I match of the ongoing five-match T20I series against India. The men in blue have already taken a 2-0 lead in the ongoing T20I series, with the third match scheduled for January 28 in Rajkot.
Despite back-to-back defeats in the ongoing tour of India, England retained the same line-up that faced a two-wicket defeat in the second T20I in Chennai in the third match at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium to get back into the series.
England confirm playing XI for third T20I as they aim to avoid series defeat in India
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Phil Salt and Ben Duckett both failed to deliver in the first two T20Is against India, scoring just four and seven runs respectively. Despite their poor form, they were retained for the do-or-die clash in Rajkot. However, not just Phil Salt and Ben Duckett but the entire batting line-up has struggled against the Indian attack in the ongoing T20I series.
Apart from the captain, Jos Buttler, who played brilliant knocks of 68 runs off 44 balls in the first T20I in Kolkata and 45 runs off 30 balls in the second T20I in Chennai, all the big names faltered in India. However, in the second T20I, Jamie Smith (22) and Brydon Carse (31) showed some promise but the failure of the top and middle order saw the tourists down to a 2-wicket defeat against India in Chennai.
Notably, Carse did not get a chance in the first T20I at the Eden Gardens, where the English side suffered a 7-wicket defeat against the Indian cricket team. Liam Livingstone was one of the biggest disappointments for the team on the tour, as he scored 0 and 13 runs and took one wicket in the first two T20Is. Harry Brook was also far from his best, amassing a total of 30 runs in two innings.
England’s bowling woes continue on tour of India
Talking about the bowling attack, Jofra Archer impressed everyone with his performance of 21/2 in the first T20I, but the fast bowler ended up as England’s most expensive bowler in the second T20I, conceding 60 runs for just one wicket in his four overs at the Stadium MA Chidambaram in Chennai.
Mark Wood went wicketless in the first T20I and then managed just one scalp in the second T20I, while Adil Rashid took one wicket in each match and Jamie Overton managed just one scalp in the ongoing five-match T20I series against People in blue.
Despite the struggles of the entire line-up, the England selectors and team management have decided to keep the same line-up XI to face Rajkot with the aim of recovering in the ongoing T20I series. Announcing the Playing XI on Monday, England Cricket announced, X: “We have named an unchanged squad for our third T20I against India as we look to pull one back into the series.”
England Playing XI for 3rd T20I vs India:
Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
We have named an unchanged squad for our third T20I against India as we look to get one back into the series 🙌
The match starts tomorrow at 13:30 GMT (19:00 local) in Rajkot ⏰ pic.twitter.com/5LQJPO3s5B
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2025
To be continued…
