Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales set to return to England's limited-overs squads

04 December 2016 12:09

Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales' return to international action will be confirmed when England announce their limited-overs squads to face India on Monday evening.

Captain Morgan and record-breaking opener Hales caused a stir when they opted out of their country's last one-day international tour of Bangladesh because of security fears after the deadly terror attack on a Dhaka cafe five months ago.

England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss responded, before Jos Buttler stepped in to lead the team to a hard-fought 2-1 series victory, by voicing his "disappointment" at Morgan and Hales' absence.

Strauss has never given any strong indication, however, of anything other than the pair's likely return to face India in January and February in three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s.

Before last month's second Test of the ongoing five-match series against India, in fact, he revisited his previous promise that - despite 'no guarantees' of future inclusion - Morgan's Bangladesh opt-out would not be held against him.

Strauss said: "It was a difficult process leading into the Bangladesh tour, and we told the players there wouldn't be any recriminations for pulling out.

"I stand by what I said, and there is every reason to expect Eoin Morgan will come back in as captain against India.

"He's done a great job with the one-day team over the last 18 months, and it has been a phenomenal transformation.

"He has to take a lot of credit for that, and we look forward to him continuing that."

Morgan's stock has risen and stayed high for his leadership of a team which successfully reinvented itself after an embarrassingly early departure from the 2015 World Cup, also under his captaincy.

Since then, Hales has played a key role in that dramatic improvement at the top of the order alongside Jason Roy - including his all-time national record highest ODI score of 171 in last summer's 169-run win over Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Further down the list, it is not so clear-cut for the selectors.

Joe Root, rested for the ODI tour in Bangladesh, is expected to travel this time - as a new father, with the birth of his first child due in the first week of January.

Two remaining places for specialist batsmen appear to lie between Ben Duckett, Sam Billings, Jonny Bairstow and James Vince.

Despite Duckett's Test travails, he appears to have done enough to be retained - with two half-centuries in three innings so far - and Billings' career-best 62 as an emergency opener in the series-clinching win in Chittagong should earn him the nod too.

Among England's first-choice all-rounders, a rest will probably be prescribed for up to two who regularly feature in all formats.

Chris Woakes' knee niggle may mean he is one who stays at home this time, possibly alongside Moeen Ali - whose absence would require an extra spin selection to join Adil Rashid, with all-rounder Liam Dawson the likeliest lad.

Elsewhere in the squad, with Mark Wood still unavailable as he recovers from his recurring ankle problem, if there is to be a new name it may well be Curran - although the forename could just as easily be Sam as elder brother Tom, both of whom have impressed as bowling all-rounders for England Lions and will surely earn promotion at some point in the months and years to come.

For the Twenty20s only, sprint-format specialist fast bowler Tymal Mills is a possible addition in place of a fellow seamer as England try to provide some international exposure for the left-armer while also managing his long-term issues with a back condition.

Possible England one-day international squad (v India): EJG Morgan (Captain), AD Hales, JJ Roy, JE Root, JC Buttler (wkt), BA Stokes, LA Dawson, AU Rashid, DJ Willey, JT Ball, SW Billings, BM Duckett, ST Finn, TK Curran

Source: PA