Josh Tong’s ODI Debut Highlights England’s New Line‑up Against India
Birmingham hosted the opening ODI of the England‑India series on July 14, where 28‑year‑old right‑arm fast bowler Josh Tong earned his first One‑Day International cap. Selected in the playing eleven, Tong joins an England side that chose to bat first after winning the toss.
Tong entered the international arena with a Test debut against Ireland in June 2023, accumulating 57 wickets over 12 matches. He later appeared in four T20 Internationals in July 2026, securing seven wickets before making the step up to the 50‑over format.
The English squad also featured a novel opening pair – Jacob Bethell opening with Ben Duckett for the first time. Veteran left‑arm spinner Liam Dawson marked his 50th appearance across all formats.
Head coach Brendan McCullum, having relinquished his Test head coach role, announced the XI early to concentrate on preparations for the 2027 World Cup. The fixture is also Jos Buttler’s 200th ODI, with former captain Eoin Morgan presenting the cap.
Captain Harry Brook, after securing the toss, decided to bat, emphasizing that the team will apply the same philosophy used in the recent T20 series: rapid assessment of conditions, clear communication, and flexible game‑plan execution. He noted the near‑identical composition of the ODI and T20 squads provides confidence in leadership continuity.
Brook acknowledged England’s fluctuating ODI performances in recent seasons but expressed belief that a balanced attack – two spinners and three fast bowlers – can deliver consistent results. Indian captain Shubman Gill said he prefers to open the bowling, describing the pitch as resembling South African conditions rather than typical Indian tracks. Gill also mentioned using the series to give game time to less‑experienced players, while welcoming the return of senior stars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah.
India’s XI: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Akshar Patel, Gurkeerat Bhullar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prithvi Shaw.
England’s XI: Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tong, Adil Rashid.