Brooks named as Eng vice-captain

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Monday that star middle-order batter Harry Brook has been appointed as the new vice-captain of England's ODI and T20I teams. He will serve as Jos Buttler's deputy in the upcoming series against India, set to begin on January 22 in Kolkata.

The right-handed batter, who made his debut against the West Indies in a T20I match on January 26, 2022, has played 20 ODIs and 39 T20Is for England.

Brook has previously stepped in as England's ODI captain in the absence of Buttler, notably during the five-match series at home against Australia in September 2024.

The 25-year-old was chosen for the vice-captaincy role over contenders like all-rounder Liam Livingstone and wicket-keeper Phil Salt.

Both Livingstone and Salt have captained England in the past, with Livingstone leading the ODI team and Salt captaining the T20I team in two matches last year.

Brook is expected to play a crucial role for England in the India series and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place in Pakistan and the UAE next month.

England's three group-stage matches of the Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan, with the venue for the semifinal depending on India's qualification.

During the T20I and ODI series against India, Buttler will play as a specialist batter. The announcement was made by England's new white-ball head coach, Brendon McCullum, during the team's pre-match press conference in Kolkata on Monday.

"I think he (Buttler) won't be keeping wickets in this series. He's going to catch them from the field, and I think that's a really positive thing for us because it gives Jos the opportunity to have the last say with the bowler and to have that relationship build at the last second rather than being, you know, 22 yards away," McCullum said.

In Buttler's absence, the wicket-keeping duties for England in the series will likely be shared between Salt and Jamie Smith, providing both teams with a chance to prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Wood, Archer return

ngland on Tuesday announced its playing XI for the highly anticipated first T20I against India, set to take place tomorrow at Eden Gardens.

The squad includes key players, with the opening pair of Ben Duckett and wicket-keeper batter Phil Salt leading the charge.

At the third and fourth spots are England's captain Jos Buttler and vice-captain Harry Brook, who are expected to anchor the middle order. The squad also marks the return of pacers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, who were last seen representing England in the shorter format during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

Notably, both England and India have faced each other 24 times in T20I cricket, with India holding the edge with 13 wins, while England has claimed victory 11 times.

India's triumphs have been spread across home (6), away (4), and neutral (3) venues. England, on the other hand, has won five times each at home and away, with one victory at a neutral venue.

The last time both teams met in a T20I series was in 2022, where India triumphed 2-1 in a thrilling three-match series.

England's Playing XI for First T20I against India: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook (VC), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

England squad for T20 series in India: Jos Buttler (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.