BAN v ENG: Will Jacks set to fill Tom Abell’s void for Bangladesh ODIs

Will Jacks. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The England team arrived in Dhaka on Friday for the white-ball tour, starting March 1. The action will kick-start with the three-match ODI series and then the attention will shift to the shortest format from March 9. The visitors announced 15-member specialist squads for both the formats of the limited-over series on February 2, which included uncapped batting all-rounder Tom Abell.

However, Abell, representing England Lions, sustained a side strain while bowling his third over in an unofficial ODI against Sri Lanka A on February 15, in Colombo. Due to the injury, the 28-year-old did not take part further in the game and had to be sidelined from the national team for the upcoming Bangladesh tour as well.

Despite the batting all-rounder being out of the series against Bangaldesh, England did not declare his replacement back then and was inclined towards operating with a 14-member squad in Bangladesh. However, they have now decided against going ahead with the idea and have called up Will Jacks to fill Abell’s shoes in the ODI series.

Jacks is a part of the England squad that is currently locking horns with New Zealand for a two-match Test series in the latter’s home. However, he has failed to break into the playing XI in either of the games. The Chertsey-born was named in the upcoming T20I series against Bangldesh and was supposed to travel to Bangladesh post the completion of the ongoing Test series. However, following the ODI call-up, the batting all-rounder will leave for Bangladesh early.

Jacks has been in a pristine form of late. In the recently culminated SA20 league 2023, the 24-year-old put up an exhibition of his flamboyant stroke play and took top-quality bowlers to the cleaners. He featured in seven matches for Pretoria Capitals and hammered 270 runs at a stunning strike rate of 201.49. Besides his batting might, the 24-year-old was a wily customer with the ball and bagged three scalps in those outings.

Jacks would look to carry on his rich vein of form and set the white-ball series against Bangladesh ablaze with his blistering performances.