England have confirmed their XI for the first Vitality IT20 against India, giving Harry Brook a clearly defined shape for Wednesday’s opener at Banks Homes Riverside.
The ECB said Brook will captain an experienced side containing more than 650 caps, with Phil Salt and Jos Buttler named at the top of the order before Brook, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran and Will Jacks.
Brook Gets Experience And Spin Cover
The selection gives England a deep T20 batting card, but the sharper call is the balance around Dawson and Adil Rashid. Liam Dawson’s inclusion adds left-arm control alongside Rashid’s leg-spin, while Curran, Jacks, Saqib Mahmood and Luke Wood give Brook several matchup options before the death overs.
India arrive after a 2-0 T20I series defeat in Ireland, according to the ECB, and start this five-match leg with Shreyas Iyer leading a squad that also includes Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
That makes England’s XI feel pointed rather than experimental. Buttler’s presence keeps proven power in the first six overs, Banton gives the middle order another right-handed accelerator, and Dawson’s recall means England are not leaving the spin workload solely with Rashid against an India line-up built to attack pace.
England Men have announced the XI to face India in the 1st Vitality IT20.
The series continues at Emirates Old Trafford on 4 July, Trent Bridge on 7 July, Bristol on 9 July and the Utilita Bowl on 11 July before the three-match ODI series begins at Edgbaston on 14 July.
England XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.
