England have announced they will rest opening batsman Ben Duckett from the upcoming T20 series against South Africa following two successive one-day international defeats to the Proteas. The decision comes after Duckett, a first-choice player across all formats, registered scores of just five and 14 in this week’s ODIs, with England now trailing 2-0 in the three-match series ahead of Sunday’s finale in Southampton.
The left-hander has appeared visibly weary after a grueling schedule that included a five-Test series against India followed by a month of competition in The Hundred. While white-ball captain Harry Brook had initially dismissed suggestions of resting Duckett immediately after Thursday’s narrow loss at Lord’s, team management have now reversed course, prioritizing player welfare ahead of the Ashes series in Australia starting in November.
In a corresponding move, England have recalled Surrey all-rounder Sam Curran for the first time this year. Curran, who was instrumental in leading Oval Invincibles to their third straight Hundred title, will join both the T20 squad against South Africa and the subsequent three-match tour of Ireland. His return highlights England’s need for bowling options after part-time spinners were heavily targeted in the recent ODI defeats.
The decision reflects growing concerns about player fatigue, with England great Stuart Broad noting that several all-format players appeared “jaded” and suggesting some should be rested immediately. As England balance their commitments across formats, managing player workload has become increasingly crucial with the busy winter schedule approaching, including the high-stakes Ashes series in Australia.
