All change for England as new T20 era begins against Australia

It’s been five years since the date last stood, but on Wednesday what definitely looks like a post-2019 era of English white-ball cricket begins in Southampton, where England meet Australia in the first of three T20s.

So far, continuity has felt like a goal, with faith being kept in as many members of the golden generation of 2019 who still had the appetite – and the place in the calendar – to play limited-overs cricket for England.

One or two players have been dropped along the way, notably Jason Roy this time last year, but only after England tried to pick him at the expense of upcoming man Harry Brook for the 50-overs World Cup.

This summer, France suffered the cleanest and most decisive break in their history, having failed in both World Cup formats in the space of nine months. Matthew Mott, the head coach initially appointed to facilitate Eoin Morgan’s continued leadership (he retired a month later), left, as did Mooen Ali and Jonny Bairstow.

In fact, with captain Jos Buttler injured for at least the T20s and a doubt for the next five ODIs, circumstances have dictated that of the 2019 squad only two are certain to feature against Australia this month: one is Jofra Archer, who has missed much of the period as he barely counts, and the other is Adil Rashid, who is so irreplaceable that England would still like to pick him at 50.

Having Test head coach Brendon McCullum waiting in the wings to take charge of this team from January has given him further impetus from afar.

There is also a touch of youth: 20-year-old all-rounder Jacob Bethell and 23-year-old batter Jordan Cox have both been selected to make their international debuts, instantly doubling the number of players aged 25 or under who have featured in T20I cricket this year.

But what about those in between? Jamie Overton, who debuts in this format as a specialist batter, and Saqib Mahmood have been unlucky with injuries as an excuse for not making breakthroughs before now, but for the likes of Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone, this feels like a pivotal moment.

Both players, who were brought into the post-2019 squad to help it progress, have seen their international careers stall. Both have already been dropped from the ODI squad as preparations for next year’s Champions Trophy begin, and must show grit this week or risk being left out altogether when England travel to the Caribbean for a white-ball tour in late October.

England😛 Salt (capt/wk), W Jacks, J Cox, L Livingstone, J Bethell, S Curran, J Overton, J Archer, A Rashid, S Mahmood, R Topley.