Saqib Mahmood Joins England Squad for Upcoming ODI Series

Saqib Mahmood the Lancashire pace bowler has joined the England squad for their upcoming one-day international (ODI) series against Australia. The 27-year-old returns to the squad after recovering from a stress fracture in his back which had sidelined him since March 2023. Mahmood recently made his international comeback in the T20 series against Australia where he took 2-21 in the opening match at Southampton. In his ODI career, he has claimed eight wickets in 14 matches with an average of 22.85.

England will be led by Harry Brook in the five-match series following Jos Buttler’s withdrawal due to a calf injury. The series kicks off at Trent Bridge on Thursday. The full England ODI squad includes Brook (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Reece Topley and John Turner.

Meanwhile, Australia’s leg-spinner Adam Zampa is set to play his 100th ODI at Trent Bridge. Despite being a top-ranked bowler and third in the ICC’s one-day rankings, Zampa has resigned himself to the fact that he may never play in an Ashes series. The 32-year-old expressed his acceptance of this reality but remains focused on the current series and the chance to win a trophy.

Zampa has taken 169 ODI wickets at an average of 28, boasting a better wickets-per-match ratio of 1.7 compared to Shane Warne’s 1.5.