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England will begin their campaign in the ODI tri-series against Pakistan on October 20, with captain Harry Brook expected to lead a reshuffled squad at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The match will be England’s first appearance in the tournament, while Pakistan will arrive after beating Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening fixture.
The visitors will be without Jos Buttler, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Jofra Archer has been rested. However, the return of all-rounder Sam Curran and leg-spinner Adil Rashid strengthens England’s options. With several uncapped players included in the squad, the team management will have to balance experience with opportunities for emerging talent.
Here’s England’s Predicted XI for 2nd ODI against Pakistan:
Ben Duckett is expected to open the innings and provide England with an aggressive start. The left-hander is comfortable against pace and spin and can exploit the fielding restrictions during the powerplay. His ability to rotate the strike while finding boundaries will be important against Pakistan’s new-ball attack.
Tom Banton could partner Duckett at the top of the order. His attacking approach makes him a useful option in the opening overs, particularly if England want to put Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure early. Banton is also a wicketkeeping option, although Jordan Cox could take the gloves depending on the team’s final combination.
Joe Root is likely to bat at No. 3 and provide stability to the innings. His experience in subcontinental conditions and ability to construct an innings make him one of England’s most important batters. Root can anchor the innings if early wickets fall and accelerate once he is settled at the crease.
Brook is expected to occupy the No. 4 position. The England captain is an aggressive middle-order batter capable of changing the course of a match in a short period. His performance against Pakistan’s spinners could prove decisive, particularly during the middle overs when the visitors will look to maintain a healthy scoring rate.
Jordan Cox could bat at No. 5 and serve as another dependable option in the middle order. He has the ability to build an innings while also accelerating when required. With Jos Buttler unavailable, Cox’s contribution could become even more significant, both as a batter and a potential wicketkeeper.
Will Jacks is predicted to feature at No. 6 as a batting all-rounder. His aggressive stroke play can help England finish strongly, while his off-spin offers Brook an additional bowling option. Jacks could be particularly valuable if Pakistan’s left-handed batters dominate the middle overs.
Sam Curran is expected to provide balance at No. 7. Returning to the squad after recovering from a groin injury, the left-arm seamer offers batting depth and can deliver important overs with the ball. His variations and ability to bowl at the death could be useful against Pakistan’s power-hitters.
Jamie Overton could be selected as the second pace-bowling all-rounder. His pace and lower-order hitting give England flexibility, allowing the team to field a deep batting lineup without compromising its bowling resources.
Adil Rashid is likely to lead England’s spin attack. Having recovered from a hand injury, the leg-spinner’s return is a major boost for the visitors. His variations, control and ability to take wickets in the middle overs will be crucial against Pakistan’s technically sound batting lineup.
Gus Atkinson is expected to feature as a frontline fast bowler. He can provide movement with the new ball and deliver hard lengths to trouble the opposition. England will need him to create early breakthroughs and prevent Pakistan from building a strong opening partnership.
Josh Tongue could complete the pace attack. His ability to extract bounce and maintain pressure makes him a useful option in Rawalpindi. If England can take wickets during the powerplay, Tongue’s role in controlling the middle overs could help restrict Pakistan to a manageable total.
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