England hopeful of recalling Test players for Australia white-ball matches

NICK HOWSON: Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, and Chris Woakes could all be involved in the three T20s and ODIs in September following a rest after the Pakistan series

• England confirm 14-man squad for Pakistan T20s

England's white-ball team could be back to full-strength for the visit of Australia in September, national selector Ed Smith has revealed.

The Test and limited-overs groups have operated in separate bio-secure bubbles this summer, with the schedule and safety protocols making playing for both sides virtually impossible.

As a result, no red-ball players were considered for the three T20 internationals against Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford, which starts three days after the test series concludes in Southampton.

However, that stance is set to change for the visit of Australia. Aaron Finch's side will play three 20-over and a trio of 50-over matches next month starting on September 4.

Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes have all exclusively played red-ball cricket this summer but that could change later down the line. Ben Stokes may also be considered if he is back from New Zealand, where he has returned for family reasons.

"We will always balance the players' physical situation, how they are travelling," said Smith. "We will look at the big picture and we always try to when it comes to selection. We do anticipate some of those players being available later on in the white-ball summer. We will select that squad for Australia during this T20 upcoming series."

Mark Wood and Sam Curran may also be in contention for that squad, but they will not be moved into the Pakistan squad if they miss out on selection for the third Pakistan Test, which starts on Friday. (August 21)

Joe Denly was moved into the white-ball bubble for the Ireland series after being dropped from the Test squad, and he returns to face Pakistan after a back problem curtailed his involvement earlier in the summer.

Australia tour of England confirmed for September

The Kent batsman averages below 10 in 12 T20Is and has only gone into double figures on four occasions. His seven wickets via his floaty leg-spin have come at 12.14 and his role as an allrounder appears to have won-over Smith.

"I think there is still some spaces in the T20 side that still we're looking at and Joe is still in contention for one of those spaces," he added.

"It is an incredibly difficult team to get into. And obviously, as we look to put together a squad, people who can do more than one thing gain an advantage - they can fill different roles. Moving forward Joe has a chance of breaking into that T20 setup and campaigns for World Cups. This is another opportunity for him to make a claim here."

James Vince was not as fortunate as he drops out of the white-ball squad having struggled in the Ireland ODIs. Scores of 25, 16, and 16 in the three matches was the continuation of a theme for the Hampshire man, who misses out as Dawid Malan returns.

"Dawid was in the squad at that time (South Africa) and James wasn't and that is how it stays," explained Smith. "James is a very talented player and at his best has the skill to look absolutely at home in international cricket. 

"It is a question with him of grabbing his opportunities. For someone of his talent and class, he probably hasn't grabbed those opportunities in the way he would like to have done and if they come around again I am sure he would be absolutely determined to really grab it."

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