Vaughan: I would have only rested Cook
Former captain Michael Vaughan has questioned the weakened nature England's squad for the five-match ODI series against Australia, which will get underway at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday.
Former captain Michael Vaughan has questioned the weakened nature England's squad for the five-match ODI series against Australia, which will get underway at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday.
The uncapped Chris Jordan, Jamie Overton, Michael Carberry, Gary Ballance and Boyd Rankin have been named in the 14-man party, which will be without the services of the rested Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Ian Bell and Graeme Swann.
19-year-old seamer Overton and Barbados-born fast bowler Jordan impressed for the England Lions against Bangladesh A recently. Fast bowler Rankin and batsman Carberry, meanwhile, will be afforded the opportunity to build on momentum gained during this weekend's T20I series against the same opposition.
The Zimbabwean-born Ballance enjoyed an outstanding stretch of form in August, scoring four centuries and two half-tons for the Lions and Yorkshire. He was named in the T20I squad for two fixtures against New Zealand earlier this year, but did not debut.
"I would have only rested captain Cook. Plenty of time to rest from Sept 16th – Nov 21st!!!? Can't sell tickets then rest 5 star names!!!! No problems resting players but I think Supporters who have paid good money to watch the best should get a small refund," Vaughan revealed on <i>Twitter</i>.
Batsmen Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root and Jonathan Trott, meanwhile, will not play in the one-off ODI against Ireland in Dublin on 3 September, but will join the squad for the five-match affair against the Australians, with spinner Danny Briggs and the right-handed James Taylor to make way. All-rounder Ben Stokes will be available for all six matches.
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