Jamie Smith Injured: England’s Setback Before ODI Series

England faces another setback before ODI series as the wicketkeeper Jamie Smith gets injured.

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The much-anticipated three-match ODI series between India and England is going to start on February 6. Jamie Smith the wicket keeper batsman, who made his debut against India in the recently concluded T20 series, has suffered a calf injury and has been ruled out of the first two ODIs. The first match was scheduled to take place in Nagpur. But just before the series, England has been dealt a massive blow due to the injury of an important player.

The injury to Jamie Smith adds to England’s woes, especially after the thrashing they received in the T20 series. The young wicketkeeper-batsman, who had played only two games of the T20 series, was also included in the ODI squad of England. The cause of his injury has created a big serious gap for England in their setup.

Jamie Smith Injured: England's Setback Before ODI Series (Credits- ESPN)
Jamie Smith Injured: England’s Setback Before ODI Series (Credits- ESPN)

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Smith’s unavailability further weakens the wicketkeeping position in England. So, experienced wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who plays only as a batter in this series, the entire burden of wicketkeeping now lies on Phil Salt, who already keeps wickets for England in the T20 series, and the burden now increases him to keep for ODIs also, which creates a further problem for England in dealing with their selection.

England Additional Response Bowler for Smith

Jamie Smith Injured: England's Setback Before ODI Series
Jamie Smith Injured: England’s Setback Before ODI Series (Credits- ESPN)

In the wake of Smith’s injury, England is likely to include an extra bowler in their ODI squad. Young spinner Rehan Ahmed, who was included in the T20 squad, will be drafted into the ODI team as a replacement for Smith. Ahmed will probably play second fiddle to Adil Rashid in the spin department, providing England with another option in their bowling attack.

It clearly marks a shift in England’s approach to Smith’s injury. The team no longer searches for the perfect replacement for Smith but provides some depth in bowling.

There would be one spinner in the squad, hoping that the overall side remains a good balance when against a deep batting line of Indians. This may change their strategy in the upcoming ODI.

This is going to be quite a blow in the preparation stage for the English team ahead of the ODI series. In both batting and wicket-keeping, they were going to have a brilliant young player from the ranks; Smith’s loss will make their game plan adjustments, especially from the wicket-keeping standpoint. Buttler’s batting single-handedly impacts the balance on the team while Salt will also have to look after the role behind the wickets.

Further, England will look to utilize their resources more efficiently, especially with the loss of Smith. Adding a spinner like Rehan Ahmed might help England strengthen their bowling department, but the overall composition of their team could be affected by the injury.

India’s Strong Squad and the Importance of the Series

Jamie Smith Injured: England's Setback Before ODI Series (Credits- ESPN)
Jamie Smith Injured: England’s Setback Before ODI Series (Credits- ESPN)

While England is struggling with this loss, the Indian team enters the ODI series with a much stronger squad. Key players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant have returned to the fold after missing the T20 series. Their inclusion adds firepower to India’s batting and bowling departments, making them a formidable opponent for England.

The upcoming ODI series is crucial for both teams as they prepare for the Champions Trophy. With the international calendar packed, this series holds significant importance for both India and England, who are looking to fine-tune their squads ahead of the prestigious tournament.

The injury to Jamie Smith has put a damper on England’s preparations for the upcoming ODI series against India. With only one available wicketkeeper in the squad and the necessity to change the strategy, things are going to be tougher for England in preparation for the series.

On the other hand, India will enjoy a full team with key players returning to play, which is going to help them make an impact before the Champions Trophy. It will be a good contest, with both teams being eager to do well in this series.

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