England have been given a good chance of taking the West Indies down in their forthcoming Test series. How does England’s captain stack up? Here is what we know about him, and how he thinks his team can win.
After the original team’s Covid bubble was compromised, David Payne (right) was selected in England’s replacement squad for the ODIs against Pakistan in July, although he did not play in any of the three games.
During England’s five-match Twenty20 trip to the West Indies in January, skipper Eoin Morgan will command a much-changed 16-man side.
No players from the current Ashes series will take part in the trip, which begins on January 22nd, four days after the last Test in Australia.
The two uncapped players are left-handed pitchers George Garton and David Payne.
With Chris Silverwood taking a vacation after the Ashes, Paul Collingwood will take over as head coach.
Eoin Morgan (Captain, Middlesex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam Billings (Kent), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), George Garton (Sussex), Chris Jordan (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Tymal Mills (Sussex), David Payne (Gloucestershire), Ad (Hampshire).
Former England opener Marcus Trescothick will help Collingwood, who led England to victory in the 2010 T20 World Cup in the West Indies.
The roster comprises 11 players that competed in the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October and November, when England was defeated by New Zealand in the semi-finals.
After recuperating from injuries incurred in that competition, both opening hitter Jason Roy (calf) and left-arm bowler Tymal Mills (thigh) are in the lineup.
Garton, 24, was in England’s team for the June match against Sri Lanka, but did not play, and was subsequently ruled out of the subsequent Pakistan series due to a breach of England’s Covid bubble.
In October, the Sussex bowler made an appearance for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, and he is now with Adelaide Strikers in the Australian Big Bash League.
In 47 T20s, he has 54 wickets, while Gloucestershire bowler Payne, 30, has 133 in 109 T20 games.
Phil Salt, who made his one-day international debut against Pakistan in July, might make his T20 international debut.
“As we begin preparations for the T20 World Cup in Australia, we have picked a quality side with some significant batting strength and a balanced attack,” Collingwood stated.
“With the absence of those players who are with the Ashes group, the World Cup is less than a year away, and the squad will have more opportunity.”
“I have fond memories of winning a World Cup in Barbados, and I’m excited to return there with this group to play a formidable West Indies team that will put all of our abilities to the test.”
West Indies, the defending champions, were eliminated from the World Cup group stage with just one victory in five games.
The five-match series will be followed by a three-match Test series in March, which will kick off England’s preparations for the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.
Schedule for the T20 series
The month of January (all day-night matches, starting 22:00 GMT)
Barbados hosts the first Twenty20 international on November 22.
Barbados hosts the 2nd Twenty20 International on March 23.
Barbados hosts the 3rd Twenty20 International on June 26.
Barbados hosts the 4th Twenty20 International on September 29.
Barbados hosts the 5th Twenty20 International.
