England Playing XI announced for the first ODI against India

After sustaining a humbling 1-4 defeat in the T20I series against India, England move on to the next phase of their tour. The touring side has announced its playing XI for the first India vs England ODI, scheduled for February 6 in Nagpur. The three-match ODI series marks the first 50-over assignment for Brendon McCullum as England's white-ball coach. The visitors have placed their trust in pacer Jofra Archer despite his ordinary run in the five-match T20I series. Meanwhile, Joe Root returns to the lineup after being left out of the squad for the shorter format. Additionally, youngster Jacob Bethell has the backing of coach McCullum and skipper Jos Buttler, who have opted for the all-rounder in the first India vs England clash.

England announce their Playing XI for the first ODI against India

Jos Buttler-led England faced the wrath of the world champions as they struggled to overcome the Men in Blue in the T20I series. India, with Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy headlining their campaign, trampled the visitors in almost every department. In the shorter format, India's spin mastery deceived the English, who have included only Adil Rashid as their dedicated spinner for the tour. Moreover, their pacers, especially Jofra Archer, failed to pose an impactful threat to the Indian batters, as Abhishek Sharma thrashed the 140-150 kmph deliveries out of the park. However, with the ICC Champions Trophy in sight, England has a chance to turn things around in the ODI series.

Joe Root, who recently concluded his SA20 campaign with the Paarl Royals, will join the England squad for the ODI series against India. Apart from his seasoned expertise in the batting order, Root also provides a reliable spin option for the visitors if the need arises. In the playing XI announced on the eve of the first India vs England ODI, the touring side has retained Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Saqib Mahmood as its pace options. In the T20I series, where Archer and Mark Wood were treated as rookies, Mahmood emerged with a notable spell, scalping three wickets in the fourth T20I, the only fixture he played in the series.

In the batting department, the likes of Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone have retained their places, with Joe Root adding stability to the lineup. Meanwhile, despite the crushing defeat in the T20I series, English skipper Jos Buttler remains committed to playing an aggressive brand of cricket in the ODIs as well. With Brendon McCullum in charge, England is keen on implementing its signature "Bazball" approach across formats, regardless of the results.

“We want to play in exactly the same way. We want to find ways to put pressure on the opposition with the bat. You’ve got to take wickets, I think it’s crucial, you see how, if you let guys bat for a period of time, they can go on from that. We’ll be desperate to try and find ways of taking wickets. It’s always about execution, really,” Buttler said ahead of the first India vs England ODI.

England's Playing XI for the first ODI against India: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood.