Photo via Wisden

Can we pick three different England XIs across formats without any repeats?

England’s recent central contract awards have given selectors a rare opportunity to construct three distinct white-ball teams without overlapping players—a challenge that highlights the squad’s depth and the trade-offs required across formats. In Test cricket, the panel locked in the incumbent openers, Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay, alongside core batsmen Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jacob Bethell, while Dan Lawrence secured the all-rounder slot, sidelining Shoaib Bashir.

The bowling attack featured Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, and Josh Tongue, with Olly Stone—despite his two-year Test absence and exclusion from the latest central contracts—earning a spot over his recent County Championship dominance, including five five-wicket hauls in 11 matches. The ODI side took a more unconventional approach, recalling Jonny Bairstow at the top of the order and pairing him with Tom Banton, who scored his first international century last month.

Sam Hain, despite limited ODI experience, earned the No. 3 spot, while Jordan Cox was chosen as wicketkeeper, departing from England’s current setup.

The bowling lineup leaned on Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Saqib Mahmood, with Brydon Carse and Liam Dawson rounding out the middle order, reflecting a blend of experience and emerging talent.

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