Smith to open for England against West Indies

England person promoted Jamie Smith to unfastened nan batting successful Harry Brook's first one-day world since being appointed full-time white-ball captain.

Smith will unfastened alongside Ben Duckett against West Indies astatine Edgbaston connected Thursday.

Former skipper Jos Buttler and all-rounders Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks are successful nan broadside aft returning from nan Indian Premier League (IPL).

Smith, who batted astatine number 3 during England's dismal Champions Trophy run this year, has ne'er opened successful List A cricket.

Brook, 26, said he and coach Brendon McCullum had a hunch that Smith, who bats astatine 7 and keeps wicket for nan Test side, could beryllium an "amazing" white-ball opener.

"He's sewage nan spot to do truthful - nan method to beryllium capable to look nan swinging ball," Brook told BBC Sport.

"As we've seen successful Test cricket, he's a very bully player. He tin put their champion balls nether unit from immoderate position."

Smith has opened successful first-class and T20 cricket. In 3 innings astatine number 3 successful nan Champions Trophy, he averaged only eight.

Surrey's Jacks, a regular white-ball opener, would person been different action astatine nan apical of nan order. He is alternatively listed astatine seven, 1 spot down chap spin-bowling all-rounder Bethell.

They are followed by Jamie Overton and Brydon Carse, accelerated bowlers who are much than useful pinch nan bat.

Pace bowlers Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson are missing because of injuries.

Overton arsenic 1 of 3 frontline seamers is simply a imaginable concern, but England look to person much bowling options and greater batting extent than astatine nan Champions Trophy.

Buttler, who resigned arsenic skipper successful February pursuing a wretched 18-month tally of results, will support wicket and bats astatine number five.

On Buttler, arguably England's top white-ball batter of all-time, being freed of nan captaincy, Brook said: "That weight will beryllium lifted disconnected his shoulders.

"He's nan champion white-ball subordinate successful nan world. He tin conscionable spell retired location and showcase his skills."

Under Buttler, England won nan T20 World Cup successful 2022, past endured atrocious campaigns astatine nan 2023 World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup and nan Champions Trophy.

England person mislaid their past 7 ODIs.

"It's a caller era now; caller leadership," said Brook. "Hopefully we tin bring a batch of energy, competitiveness and a batch of nosy retired there.

"We'll effort to prosecute nan crowd arsenic overmuch arsenic we tin and effort to get immoderate wins nether our belt."

England's mediocre tally has near them successful threat of missing retired connected automatic qualification for nan 2027 World Cup.

Brook's broadside are apt to request a spot successful nan apical 9 of nan world rankings successful March 2027 successful bid to debar going done a qualifying tournament. They statesman this three-match bid successful eighth, 1 spot up of West Indies.

The Windies, who did not suffice for nan astir caller World Cup, drew a three-match bid successful Ireland 1-1 past week.

"It's a caller commencement and a different series," said West Indies skipper Shai Hope.

"World Cup qualification is our main goal, but we can't get to 2027 without ticking each box."

Bethell returns to world cricket aft missing nan Champions Trophy done wounded and skipping England's Test triumph against Zimbabwe because of his IPL commitments.

The 21-year-old, who will statement up connected his location crushed for Warwickshire, was calved successful Barbados and caught nan attraction of Hope arsenic a teenager.

"I saw him during his under-15 stint. He ever looked for illustration a value player," said Hope.

"Seeing what he's done, he's surely a formidable talent. He tin spell a very agelong way.

"I'm happy for him, but we're enemies this time."