England Name Harry Brook as Captain for ODI and T20I Series vs New Zealand; Zak Crawley Gets Maiden T20I Call-Up

England have announced their squad for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand, starting October 18, 2025. The 3-match series, beginning with T20Is followed by ODIs, will see Harry Brook leading the side in both formats.

The selectors have opted for a mix of experience and fresh faces, with Zak Crawley handed his maiden T20I call-up, while Sam Curran and Liam Dawson return to England’s white-ball setup.

Key Absentees and Workload Management

The ECB continues to carefully manage player workloads ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Senior players Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, and Jofra Archer have been rested, while fast bowler Saqib Mahmood has been ruled out due to minor knee surgery.

This follows England’s disappointing run against South Africa earlier this year, and the management hopes to rotate players smartly to keep them fresh for bigger tournaments.

Joe Root to Anchor the ODIs

Among the ODI squad, Joe Root is set to be the centerpiece. Root’s red-hot form continues—he struck a brilliant 96-ball century against South Africa on September 7, steering England to a total of 414 runs in a commanding win. With Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, and Sam Curran also in good nick, Root’s presence is expected to bolster England’s middle order.

The series promises to be a crucial test, especially with New Zealand’s home advantage. For England, it’s also a chance to regain confidence and fine-tune combinations ahead of the World Cup year.

England Squad for New Zealand Series

ODI Squad: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood

T20I Squad: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood