Salt Withdraws from ENG’s T20Is vs WI after Birth of his Child
Phil Salt, the England wicketkeeper batter, has withdrawn his name from the T20I squad to take on West Indies in a home three-match series starting on Friday, June 6. The 28-year-old will be taking time off from national duty after the birth of his first child earlier this week, to spend some time at home with family.
Salt, who has been a key player for England in the shorter formats of the game, has been named in the 15-member squad for the T20I series against West Indies. However, the news of his withdrawal has been confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday.
The ECB has announced that Sam Billings will replace Salt in the squad. Billings, who has previously represented England in the T20Is, will join the squad ahead of the first match on Friday.
Salt’s decision to withdraw from the series is understandable, given the joy and excitement of welcoming a new child to the family. As a new father, he will want to spend some quality time with his loved ones and be there for them during this special period.
Salt has been in excellent form for England in the T20Is, having scored 171 runs in 7 matches at an average of 34.20 and a strike rate of 137.50. He has also taken 7 wickets in the same number of matches at an average of 12.71 and a strike rate of 10.00.
Salt’s withdrawal from the squad will be a blow to England’s plans, especially considering his experience and form in the T20Is. However, the team has enough depth and talent in the squad to accommodate his absence.
The three-match T20I series between England and West Indies is scheduled to start on June 6 and will be played at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The series will be a crucial one for both teams, as it will provide them with an opportunity to fine-tune their skills ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.
England’s squad for the T20I series against West Indies:
- Eoin Morgan (captain)
- Moeen Ali
- Jonny Bairstow
- Sam Billings
- Jos Buttler
- Tom Curran
- Chris Jordan
- Liam Livingstone
- Dawid Malan
- Adil Rashid
- Jason Roy
- Reece Topley
- David Willey
- Chris Woakes
West Indies squad for the T20I series against England:
- Nicholas Pooran (captain)
- Shai Hope
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Evin Lewis
- Andre Russell
- Rovman Powell
- Fabian Allen
- Hayden Walsh Jr.
- Obed McCoy
- Sheldon Cottrell
- Kesrick Williams
- Akeal Hosein
- Alzarri Joseph
The news of Salt’s withdrawal from the squad comes at a time when England is preparing for a busy summer of cricket. They will play a five-match Test series against New Zealand, followed by a three-match T20I series against West Indies.
In conclusion, Phil Salt’s decision to withdraw from the T20I series against West Indies is understandable, given the joy and excitement of welcoming a new child to the family. England has a strong squad and will be confident of winning the series without Salt. The series will provide an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills and stake their claim for a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.
