Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes fans should be offered refunds for the upcoming one-day international series against Australia after the core of the Ashes-winning team were left out of the 50-over squad.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed this morning that skipper Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Graeme Swann would be rested for the five-match series, as well as next week’s one-off match against Ireland in Dublin.
Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes, who debuted at The Oval last week, have also not been included in the squad.
With Australia also making a raft of changes – only seven of their 18-man ODI squad played in the Test series – both countries clearly have their eye on the return Ashes in Australia.
While that may appear understandable given the short turnaround between series – and following a busy summer schedule – it means England fans wishing to see their Ashes winners in actions will instead be treated to a 14-man squad captained by Eoin Morgan and including five uncapped players.
While the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Joe Root have been retained for the Australia games, Vaughan believes supporters who have already purchased their tickets will be short-changed.
“I would have only rested Captain Cook.. Plenty of time to rest from Sept 16th – Nov 21st,” Vaughan wrote on his Twitter page.
“Can’t sell tickets then rest 5 star names!
“No problems resting players but I think supporters who have paid good money to watch the best should get a small refund…”
The series will be the first time Cook has been rested from an England team since he took over the Test captaincy 12 months ago.
Since then he has led tours to India and New Zealand before a summer campaign that has included the emotion of his first Ashes success in charge, a run to the Champions Trophy final and a 2-0 Test series win over the Black Caps.
England have previously sought to protect their bowlers from the rigours of the international schedule and, with Tim Bresnan sidelined by a back problem, have opted not to take any risks with their attack.
All three played in every Test this summer with Swann having only returned from elbow surgery on the eve of the New Zealand series.
Bell’s importance to the team was underlined as he claimed man-of-the-series with three centuries.
England can afford to put the 31-year-old in cotton wool given those performances, with their first match of the Australia tour just two months away in Perth on October 31.
National selector Geoff Miller confirmed allowing players time to recover was foremost in their decision-making, with the series now set to become an audition for uncapped players like Jamie Overton, Michael Carberry and Chris Jordan the chance to impress with the World Cup 18 months away.
England ODI squad vs Ireland:
Eoin Morgan (capt), Gary Ballance, Ravi Bopara, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler (wkt), Michael Carberry, Steven Finn, Chris Jordan, Jamie Overton, Boyd Rankin, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Luke Wright.England ODI squad to play Australia:
Eoin Morgan (capt), Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wkt), Michael Carberry, Steven Finn, Chris Jordan, Jamie Overton, Kevin Pietersen, Boyd Rankin, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
With Rajasthan needing 25 off 17, both batsmen ended up at the same end but the bowler dropped the throw from his teammate -…
A six-laden, 27-ball 84 from Jake Fraser-McGurk to continue his outrageous debut IPL!
Johnny Bairstow has hit his way back into form with a 45-ball century as he steered his side to a record-breaking win, easily chasing…
It seems franchise cricket has forgotten about the great battle between bat and ball. In fact, this season in the IPL there is no battle at all.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Xavier Bartlett has been permission to extend his cricketing education with a spell of T20s in England, playing in the Blast competition for Kent…
