Two of England’s most popular cricketers are facing the possibility of their international careers being over, with Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali the high-profile omissions from the men’s white-ball squads that take on Australia next month.
Reacting to two joyless and failed World Cup defences in the past year – campaigns that cost Matthew Mott his job as white-ball head coach but left Jos Buttler clinging on as captain because of a lack of alternatives – the selection panel led by the team director, Rob Key, has opted for an injection of youth across the T20 and 50-over teams.
