England have confirmed their XI for Tuesday’s first ODI against India at Edgbaston, with Jacob Bethell promoted to open alongside Ben Duckett and Jos Buttler set to make his 200th one-day international appearance.
According to Sky Sports, Harry Brook’s side make just two changes from the team that sealed a 4-0 T20 series sweep over India on Saturday, with Duckett replacing Phil Salt and Joe Root returning in place of Tom Banton. The fixture is also Brendon McCullum’s first in sole charge of the white-ball set-up, days after his Test sacking set off the search for England’s next Test coach.
Cricket Country notes that Bethell becomes Duckett’s fifth opening partner in recent times, following Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Zak Crawley and Rehan Ahmed — a clear signal England want a settled pairing at the top.
Harry Brook Leads Spin-Heavy England XI For Jos Buttler’s 200th ODI
The full XI reads: Bethell, Duckett, Root, Brook (captain), Buttler (wicketkeeper), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue and Adil Rashid. Three frontline spin options in Rashid, Dawson and Jacks suggest England expect turn at Edgbaston, while Cricket Country reports Archer is playing his first ODI since November, with Gus Atkinson missing out.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Dinesh Karthik — part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s coaching set-up — backed the switch: “Bethell genuinely wants to be at the top of the innings. In white-ball cricket he prefers opening.”
England arrive top of the T20 rankings but sit only eighth in ODIs, with India No 1 — so with a 50-over World Cup coming in 2027, Tuesday’s Edgbaston opener begins a genuine proving ground before the series moves to Cardiff on Thursday and Lord’s on Sunday.
