England recall Mason Crane for Pakistan tri-series as Jofra Archer is rested

Crane returns eight years after solitary Test cap

England have recalled leg-spinner Mason Crane for the one-day international tri-series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, nearly eight years after his solitary Test cap in Sydney in 2018. The 29-year-old Glamorgan spinner, who also played two T20 internationals in 2017, is back in international contention as England shape a white-ball squad ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup.

Harry Brook’s squad will fly to Islamabad on 15 October for a round-robin mini-tournament that serves as preparation for next year’s 50-over World Cup. The three teams play each other twice in the group stage, before the top two meet for the final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on 31 October.

Injuries and workload management shape selection

Jos Buttler will miss the trip due to the hamstring tear he sustained last week, while Jofra Archer is being rested at the start of a busy winter. Jacob Bethell is continuing his recovery from knee surgery and Brydon Carse remains absent while under investigation by the Cricket Regulator following an incident outside a nightclub in Derby in August.

There are returns for Adil Rashid and Sam Curran following injury. The most eye-catching move is Crane usurping Rehan Ahmed as the back-up wrist-spinner. Ahmed struggled for impact during the recent 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka which saw the all-rounder dropped for the decider.

Uncapped pair James Coles and Henry Crocombe are included. Crocombe, who impressed for Sussex this season ahead of his winter move to Surrey, joins a seam bank alongside Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Joe Root, Josh Tongue and Tom Banton.

Sonny Baker is likely to share the new ball with Josh Tongue, having claimed his maiden ODI wicket against Sri Lanka at the Oval last week. Now a three-format England cricketer after his Test debut in June, and recently voted the Professional Cricketers Association’s young player of the year, Baker said:

“One of the biggest things I’m trying to do for the rest of my career is to break it down into segments. So during this next period of time, what am I focusing on? What am I trying to get out of it? In Pakistan it would be reverse-swing, trying to bang my yorkers, and learn about executing skills in those conditions. Pakistan is not somewhere I’ve been before. I’m sure that’ll be a very transferable skill to playing in other areas of Asia. I’m really, really looking forward to that – particularly reverse swing, I think caters to my action quite nicely.”

Selector backs Crane’s form

Though primarily a bowler, Crane has added a second string to his bow this summer, scoring two first-class centuries to go with 51 wickets across formats. This season he took 34 wickets in the County Championship.

England men’s national selector Marcus North said: “Mason Crane has been performing consistently for Glamorgan across both formats during the summer. He’s an experienced, high-class leg-spinner who thoroughly deserves another opportunity at international level.”

The return is eye-catching given the close proximity of the World Cup and uncertainty surrounding spin-bowling in England’s Test team, and could push his case for a Test spot.

Squad and schedule

England ODI squad for tri-series in Pakistan: 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).

England are on a diet of white-ball cricket until three Tests in South Africa in December as they build up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next year. Following the trip to Pakistan, England play three one-day internationals and five T20s in Australia in November.

As England continue to shape their backroom staff following the arrival of Stephen Fleming as Test coach, Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy, David Saker and Carl Hopkinson will assist white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum in Pakistan. Marcus Trescothick, who took temporary charge of the Test team for the series against Pakistan in the home summer, misses the trip. Fielding coach Sarah Taylor and fast-bowling coach Tim Southee are also not going to Pakistan.

Tri-series schedule:

• 18 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
• 20 October – Pakistan v England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
• 22 October – Sri Lanka v England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
• 25 October – Pakistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 27 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 29 October – Sri Lanka v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 31 October – Tri-series final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore