With the 2025/26 Ashes series just over a month away, England’s selection strategy for the New Zealand white-ball tour is a delicate balancing act between securing match fitness for key Test players and managing the workloads of Ben Stokes’s frontline bowlers.
While the T20I squad featured many specialists and rested Test players, the subsequent three-match ODI series will see several key Ashes names return to action before heading to Australia.
The ODI squad, captained by Harry Brook, is a hybrid unit, blending T20 specialists with established Test veterans who need match practice in overseas conditions.
The core rest batsmen joining the ODI squad
Several players named in the 16-man Ashes Test squad are scheduled to feature in the ODIs to sharpen their skills against international opposition, particularly in batting roles.
Joe Root: The veteran batsman is a guaranteed inclusion, providing crucial experience in the 50-over format as he prepares for the Test series.
- Ben Duckett: Like Joe Root, Duckett is set to feature in the ODIs, offering a white-ball specialist experience that keeps him sharp ahead of the first Test in Perth.
Jamie Smith: The wicketkeeper-batsman is set to feature, providing both glovework practice and middle-order batting time.
Ben Stokes: The Test captain is expected to join the squad after visiting family in Christchurch. His involvement will be crucial for regaining match fitness after his recent shoulder issue, though his bowling workload will be heavily monitored.
Test vice-captain Brook will captain the ODI side, giving him valuable leadership experience before he takes up the same role in the Ashes.
Fast bowler workload management
The preparation strategy is most evident in the fast-bowling contingent, where England is prioritising Test readiness over ODI participation.
📲 Follow AllSportsPeople on WhatsApp
- Rested for the First ODI: Jofra Archer, who has made a strong Test comeback this year, will miss the opening ODI in Mount Maunganui. This is a precautionary measure to suit his Ashes build-up, with the club keen not to overburden him, especially given his history of injuries. Archer is likely to feature in the second and third ODIs in Hamilton and Wellington.
- Arriving Later: Fellow express quicks Mark Wood and Josh Tongue, who were rested from the T20Is, will arrive in New Zealand alongside Archer later this week to begin targeted conditioning work specifically for the Australian pitches.
- Playing in the ODIs: Seamers like Brydon Carse and Luke Wood are involved in the initial white-ball fixtures to maintain rhythm while the frontline Test pacers ramp up separately.
The white-ball specialists vs. The test players
The remainder of the ODI squad is filled with white-ball specialists and players looking to stake a claim for the T20 World Cup, alongside a few Test specialists like Zak Crawley (in the T20s) and Ben Duckett.
Key players in the ODI squad who are not immediately part of the 16-man Ashes Test party include: Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, and Adil Rashid.
Their involvement ensures England maintains high standards in the ODI series while the core Test group focuses on their specific red-ball acclimatisation in Perth.
Cricket news and related links
- Jofra Archer to miss opening New Zealand ODI series with Ashes preparation taking priority
- The Ashes contenders: Three young guns poised for an England call-up
- Mark Wood provides positive update on Ashes rehab
- The Ashes debate: The race to be England’s second spinner heats up
- Harry Brook unleashes his frustration after England’s heavy defeat