Stokes to lead England

ENGLAND named an entirely new squad featuring nine uncapped players yesteray for their one-day international series against Pakistan after a major Covid-19 outbreak in their camp.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said PCR tests administered in Bristol on Monday showed three players and four support staff, all of whom have not been named, to be positive, with the rest of the group deemed to be close contacts and having to self-isolate as well.

But the three-match series against Pakistan, due to start in Cardiff tomorrow, will go ahead, with Ben Stokes taking over the England captaincy from Eoin Morgan.

Stokes, who has been playing for county side Durham following a finger injury suffered on Indian Premier League duty, is now set to make his first England appearance since March.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: “We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio-secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak.

“We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall well-being of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.

“Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duties to captain,” he added.

England, the 50-over world champions, completed a 2-0 ODI series win over Sri Lanka when the third and final match in Bristol on Sunday was rained out.