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.
ChrisUK
Guest
+1
JimmyB
Guest
Oh fair enough. My own personal feeling is that it's a good idea to blood young players in the ODI format and if required, rest some senior players. Quite genuinely I'd rather win an important test series against the likes of Australia, South Africa or India than win a World Cup. Purely a personal preference mind you.
RobRoy
Guest
Good post Chris. I would add that the resting of test players is more on the radar than ever with the second Ashes series in Australia so close on the heels of the one just finished in England.
Nudge
Guest
No mate but I reckon they could have rotated them. Swann bell play first 2 or 3 broad cook and Anderson last 2 or 3. It would be a crap series if now Australia send home Clarke Watson starc Warner and smith
JimmyB
Guest
Do you mean that England should field their best 11?
Nudge
Guest
It may be ok for you guys jimmy to see some new players but for me I have no interest at all. Don't be surprised now if Australia rest Watson and Clarke and maybe send starc Hughes Warner back home to play a couple of shield games. We do have 18 in the squad. I was really looking forward to these games but to be honest ill probably choose the footy finals when the games clash.
JimmyB
Guest
Nudge, I'd argue that these guys are really hungry and have a lot to prove, which could make for an exciting series. And let's be honest, it'll be good to see some different faces.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
This has been a discussion in Australia for ages with the team continually being changed around in ODI's and taking the opportunity to rest key players rather than playing the best team most of the time meaning that people buy tickets to go to the matches and get there and most of their favourite players are missing. I think this sort of comment has been made multiple times a summer for the last 5 years in Australia. It's a tough thing, because with the three formats of cricket and so much cricket being played (it's no longer just a summer season and then touring in the winter, but regularly there are spring and autumn tours as well, filling in all the gaps in the schedule) it's really tough to just have the best players play in everything. There are always going to be some changes as some players are more suited to the different formats, but then, on top of that, we get changes that are more about resting players than changing in order to play the best ODI side.
Nudge
Guest
Not sure ill be sitting up late now to watch these games. Surely they could have had these guys in the squad and rotated them around for perhaps 3 games each. Least the English hierarchy put test cricket first. Hopefully Clarke Warner Watson starc smith and co will not go to India and instead get 3 or 4 shield matches in