Tom and Sam Curran named in England T20I squad

Brothers Tom and Sam Curran have been included in the same England squad for the first time, raising the possibility that they might become the first pair of brothers to play in the same England side this century.

Ben and Adam Hollioake were the most recent pair of brothers to play in the same game for England, in February 1999 against Sri Lanka. Tom and Sam have in the past played in the same England Lions side.

They are two of 14 named in a squad for the one-off T20I against Australia and the three match T20I series against India. Tom, a 23-year-old right-arm seamer, made his England debut in the shortest format almost exactly a year ago and has since gone on to play ODI and Test cricket, while Sam, a 19-year-old all-rounder who bowls left-arm pace, made his England debut in the recently concluded Test series with Pakistan, but is yet to make his white-ball debut for his country.

Other notable inclusions are Jake Ball, yet to make his T20I debut, and Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, and Moeen Ali, who were all rested for England’s most recent T20I assignment, a tri-series involving Australia and New Zealand.

Sam Billings, Dawid Malan, Liam Dawson, and James Vince were all in the squad for that series but have been left out of this squad. Durham quick Mark Wood has been rested this time round, while all-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes are both injured. The latter has been ruled out of all the fixtures, but the former will continue his rehabilitation from a torn hamstring with the squad, and may be available for selection depending on his recovery.

England take on Australia at Edgbaston on 27 June, while the series against India starts at Old Trafford on 3 July.

**Squad:Eoin Morgan (c),**Moeen Ali **,Jonathan Bairstow,**Jake Ball, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Alex Hales **,Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid,Joe Root,**Jason Roy, David Willey