After a coronavirus outbreak in the camp, England were forced to name a new 18-man squad for their upcoming series against Pakistan on home turf, with Ben Stokes named as the captain of the side for three ODI games and three T20 Internationals.
Of the 18 players involved, nine are yet to feature for their country in ODI action, presenting great opportunities to some of the county game's finest operators, and here Sports Mole highlights three of those newcomers to keep an eye on, potentially informing your punts on cricket betting sites.
Following an eye-catching start to the season with Surrey, batsman Will Jacks has more than earned himself a call-up in the absence of several established players due to COVID-19.
Despite having only spent three years in the professional game, the 22-year-old has already established himself as one of the best batsmen in the country in limited overs cricket, demonstrating an excellent ability to clear the ropes, never more apparent than his remarkable score of 70 from just 24 balls in their 54-run win over rivals Middlesex in the T20 Blast, while his 15-ball half-century was the third fastest in English T20 history.
Boasting the sixth highest run tally in the T20 Blast so far this season, with 369 runs from 11 innings, the Surrey opener has made himself a man to watch this summer, and will hope to be afforded an opportunity to shine later in the series.
Despite being dismissed for seven in the opening ODI game of the series, opening batsman Phil Salt could be set up for a big summer at the top of the order, having earned his place back in an England squad thanks to an impressive run of domestic form with Sussex.
In a T20 Blast campaign hit by injury, Salt has notched up 262 runs in just seven innings at an average of 52.40, including a high score of 77 not out from 44 balls in their nine-wicket victory over Hampshire as well as an explosive 63 off 35 deliveries in their most recent T20 win over Glamorgan.
Having previously featured in the England T20 side before dropping down the pecking order amidst major competition for spots at the top of the order with the likes of Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Johnny Bairstow, Dawid Malan and Alex Hales, Salt now has the chance to prove himself once again for the national side with two more 50-over encounters before the beginning of a three-game T20I series.
Finally, Middlesex wicket keeper John Simpson could catch eyes with a spell in the England side for the first time in his career, despite having played a key role in the domestic game for over 10 years.
While the 32-year-old may not have had his best T20 campaign in England, he did star in their impressive chase of 215 to defeat Hampshire, as Simpson hit an eye-catching 62 from just 31 deliveries including five sixes.
He has looked more consistent in this year's County Championship, hitting 362 runs from 15 innings in the lower order, including a high score of 95 not out against Leicestershire, and definitely possesses the tools to punish Pakistan if called upon in this series.
While he was not required in England's chase of 141 in the first ODI, Simpson did take two catches behind the stumps, and will be waiting in the wings with the bat ready to impress the England selectors in his bid to become a fixture in the squad going forward. body check tags ::
