England name team for Champions Trophy Opener

Jamie Smith will bat at three for England in their Champions Trophy opener against Australia on Saturday in a surprise selection. 

In his seven ODI matches Smith has scored 133 runs with a high score of 49 but the wicketkeeper has never batted above number five in any of his games in the format for England. 

The 24-year-old’s only experience of batting at number three in one-day cricket came for Surrey against Kent in 2019. 

Smith will also keep wicket against Australia, taking the gloves from Phil Salt and his selection means Joe Root will move to number four in the batting order. 

Root and Liam Livingstone will share responsibilities of being England’s fifth bowler as Brydon Carse comes back into the team after recovering from a toe injury to join Mark Wood and Jofra Archer in the pace attack. 

Australia’s preparation for the tournament has been rocked by a spate of withdrawals. The current 50 over World Champions will be without all three of their famous pace attack Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Halzewood who pulled out of the competition for a variety of reasons.  

England XI: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood