Harry Brook announced as the English captain for ODI series against Australia

Jos Buttler is set to miss the England vs Australia ODI series as his calf injury continues to trouble the English skipper. Effectively, Harry Brook has been announced as the captain of England for the upcoming series against the Kangaroos. Earlier, Phil Salt took over the leading position of the English team for the three-match T20I series. The T20I series ended up at levels as the final clash was washed off at Old Trafford in Manchester. Now, Harry Brook has been handed his maiden captaincy stint as he fills in for Buttler.

Harry Brook takes over England's ODI captaincy against Australia as Jos Buttler continues his injury struggle

Jos Buttler has not played a single match in competitive cricket since the T20 World Cup semi-final earlier this year. The English skipper who has endured a calf injury for a third time will now eye a return in the England Tour of West Indies slated later this year. In his absence, as Brook and Salt took over the leadership mantle, all-rounder Liam Livingstone also earned a return to the English white-ball team. The power-hitter, consequently, scripted an impressive performance in the recently concluded T20I series against Australia. Liam Livingstone hit a blazing 87 off just 47 to lead England to the victory in a chase of 194. The effort by Livingstone ensured that the hosts sat level with Australia who had beaten England by 28 runs in the series opener.

The 25-year-old Harry Brook has played 15 ODIs so far. The star Bazball batter had earlier chosen as the English captain for the Sri Lanka Test series as Ollie Pope was announced the captain in place of an injured Ben Stokes. While Brook has successfully carved his place in the Test setup, the youngster is yet to come up with a defining footing in the white-ball format. Earlier as England bowed down to India in the ODI World Cup last year, Brook was heard explaining that he is still “trying to figure out the 50-over format”.

However, now with England going ahead with Brook as a replacement to an injured Buttler in the series, it looks like the ECB is keen to extend the longer rope to the batter in the white-ball format. His appointment as captain marks the third time this season that England will have used a different skipper across the three international formats. Meanwhile, 20-year-old left-arm fast bowler Josh Hull, who made his Test debut in the final match of the Sri Lanka series at the Oval earlier this month, was initially set to be part of the 50-over squad. However, due to a quad injury, Hull will be resting ahead of next month’s tour to Pakistan.