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England have announced their 15-member squad for both ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and ODI series against India. Despite talks about potential resignation following England's disappointing performances in recent ICC tournaments, Jos Buttler will continue to captain the Three Lions.
Ben Stokes ruled out of Champions Trophy 2025 due to injury
But what left everyone surprised was the omission of Ben Stokes from the England's ODI squad. Stokes is considered England's superstar all-rounder and is one of the most experienced players in the fold. He is also renowned for his exceptional performance under pressure in crucial matches.
Following the squad announcement, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) came up with an explanation for Ben Stokes' exclusion. During the third Test match against New Zealand in Hamilton, Stokes sustained a left hamstring injury while bowling in New Zealand's second innings. He was unable to complete his over and had to leave the field. Stokes is currently undergoing assessment, and therefore, he was not considered for selection in either the ODI or T20I squads for the upcoming tour of India.
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"Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes was not considered for selection as he continues to be assessed following a left hamstring injury sustained during the third Test match against New Zealand earlier this month," ECB's statement read.
Stokes' injury impacted England's performance in the third Test against New Zealand. He was unable to bat during England's challenging run-chase of 658 runs, and the team ultimately lost the match by a substantial margin of 423 runs. Despite this loss, England had already secured the series with victories in the first two Tests.
Stokes' absence will be a big blow for England, particularly in major tournaments. His impact on the team is evident from his past performances, such as his Player of the Match performance in the ODI World Cup 2019 final and his match-winning knocks in the 2019 Ashes Test at Headingley. In 2022, he once again shone under pressure with an unbeaten half-century in the T20 World Cup final.
Stokes has been riddled with injuries of late. A few months ago, he suffered a hamstring injury during a match in The Hundred, forcing him to miss the Test series against Sri Lanka. To prolong his Test cricket career, he recently opted out of the IPL 2025 auction. While he has been a regular in England's Test team, including captaining the side, Stokes hasn't played a white-ball game for over a year. His last ODI appearance was during the 2023 World Cup against Pakistan, and his last T20I was also against Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup final.
England's squad for Champions Trophy 2025 and ODI series against India:
Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
