RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — England starts as favorite to win an ODI tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka despite missing Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer.
All three nations have directly qualified for next year’s World Cup to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and the tri-series is a buildup for them to shape up their squads.
The series will be played in a double-league format with Rawalpindi hosting the first three games, starting with Sunday’s opener between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Lahore hosts four games, including the final between the top two teams on Oct. 31.
Chance for Baker and Cox
England comes into the series following three straight victories in the last three bilateral ODI series, including home and away victories over Sri Lanka and a 2-1 victory over India at home.
“It’s been quite a slick process for us in the last few months,” captain Harry Brook said Saturday. “Pakistan are going to present us challenges that we probably haven’t quite faced yet as an ODI side, and we’re really looking forward to that opportunity of playing against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in subcontinental conditions.”
Fast bowler Archer has been rested after a busy home summer while Buttler was ruled out because of a hamstring injury sustained during England’s 16-run loss in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley last month.
Buttler’s absence will give an opportunity to Jordan Cox as a wicketkeeper-batter and give white-ball coach Brendon McCullum a chance to test the depth of the side ahead of the World Cup.
Sonny Baker has been drafted in to fill in the shoes of Archer, and observers will be watching for his reverse-swing skills and yorkers — especially in the death overs.
“If we get the opportunity to get to that final (on Oct. 31), it will show us where we are as a squad and where we — as an eleven — are going into a pressure game,” Brook said. “We want to be a side where we can win in any conditions against any opposition, and that’s been the main messaging really.”
Harry Brook has happy memories of scoring loads of runs in Pakistan, both in white-ball format and in red-ball cricket. He played for Lahore Qalandars during the 2022 Pakistan Super League and followed it with 468 runs during the three-test series in Pakistan.