English players being called to miss remaining BBL matches

Analysis Knight Rider

English players being called to miss remaining BBL matches

English players being called to miss remaining BBL matches
The England and Wales Cricket Board summoned members of their T20I team home early ahead of a tour to the West Indies later this month. This has caused a number of KFC BBL clubs to be busy trying to recruit replacement players.

Six players were chosen in England's T20I squad late last month, including Sydney Thunder's Sam Billings and Saqib Mahmood, but they were only anticipated to skip their club's last two regular season games (and any finals). England's team must meet in the United Kingdom on January 15 in order to go to Barbados for the five-game series.

The English imports, on the other hand, have been ordered to return to the United Kingdom and enter pre-tour isolation by January 7.

Billings and Mahmood (Sydney Thunder), George Garton (Adelaide Strikers), Chris Jordan (who has already returned home) and James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Tymal Mills (Perth Scorchers), and Reece Topley (Perth Scorchers) are among England's 16-man T20I team (Melbourne Renegades).

Billings and Mahmood will make their farewell appearances for the Sydney club on Sunday – Garton was selected as an X-factor sub for the Strikers for the same match – while Mills will likely retire after Perth's win over Melbourne Stars earlier that day.

Topley has been chosen to the Renegade's team for Monday's Melbourne derby. It is unclear whether Vince will play one more game for the Sixers before travelling on Tuesday.

Signings in English The Brisbane Heat's Tom Abell and Ben Duckett, the Hobart Hurricanes' Harry Brook and Jordan Thompson, the Melbourne Stars' Joe Clarke, the Perth Scorchers' Laurie Evans, and the Sydney Thunder's Alex Hales were not selected in the team and will be allowed to finish the season with their BBL clubs.

No England player presently aiming to reclaim the urn in Australia was considered for selection in the 20-over team, with the fifth Vodafone Ashes Test slated to complete just four days before the first T20.

Billings is a particularly significant loss for the Thunder, since he smashed 64 and 69 against the Heat and Scorchers late last month. Mahmood, a 24-year-old speedster, scored 4-22 in his debut against the Heat.

During the Sixers' back-to-back BBL triumphs, Vince has established himself as a potent opening partner for Josh Philippe.

The Scorchers' depth of bowling should let them cover Mills. Meanwhile, the Renegades will need to find another bowler to replace Topley in the surge. Nevertheless, with the likes of Kane Richardson, James Pattinson, and Mohammad Nabi on their list, that shouldn't be an issue.

From January 22 to 30, England will play the West Indies in five Twenty20 Internationals, all of which will be held at Kensington Oval in Barbados.