Jos Buttler and Joe Root are set to go head to head in Friday night’s Vitality Blast Roses match, as well as Lancashire’s Championship match against Yorkshire starting on Sunday, after the ECB confirmed the availability of England players at the conclusion of the ODI series with India.
Jonny Bairstow will only be available for the Championship match at Old Trafford, which could also feature James Anderson on his comeback from injury. Anderson and Stuart Broad, who has had a painkilling injection in his ankle, will be assessed by England’s medical staff but should be free to play for Lancashire and Nottinghamshire respectively.
Durham’s Mark Wood, who recently spoke of his desire to be involved in the Test series against India, has been rested from the Blast but can turn out in the Championship against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. Ben Stokes is available for both games.
Among others who have featured in the ODIs, Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Jason Roy, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid and David Willey will all return to their counties without any restrictions on their involvement.
Dawid Malan, currently playing for England Lions against India A, will be unavailable for Middlesex’s two Blast games this week, but will continue to tune up for the India Tests in the Championship fixture against Warwickshire. The five-Test series begins at Edgbaston on August 1.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo