There will be no Ben Stokes or Joffre Archer in the Ashes for England this year, but Jose Butler has been named in the 17-man squad he announced on Sunday. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reiterated that the Ashes tour will take place "under a number of critical conditions from Cricket Australia" before visitors travel in November.
"Durham's Ben Stokes was not available for selection and he is taking an indefinite break from all cricket to prioritize his mental health and recovery from his injured left index finger," the ECB said. All-rounder Sam Korn has suffered a lower back fracture that prevented him from being selected.
However, veteran fast bowler Stuart Broad has been included in the squad. The ECB said Broad, who suffered a calf injury after England's first Test against India in August, was making "excellent progress" and would return to bowling at the ECB Performance Center in Loughborough next week. Ready for
England 17-man squad: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Base, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jose Butler, Zac Crowley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, David Malan, Craig Everton, Oli Pope , Oli Robinson, Chris Vokes, Mark Wood.