England’s top-order batsman Joe Root has been rested for the remaining matches of the ODI series against Ireland. He has been replaced by wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that the decision to rest Root is part of the team’s preparation for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.
The second ODI of the three-match series is scheduled to be played in Nottingham on Saturday.
Some England cricketers have also reportedly declined multi-year central contracts offered by the ECB in order to keep themselves available for lucrative T20 franchise opportunities.
Negotiations between the players and the ECB have faced challenges, particularly concerning the initially proposed multi-year central contracts, which did not include the expected increase in match fees.
Discussions are expected to continue between the ECB and the Team England Player Partnership, who manage the players’ negotiations.
It is rumored that the ECB is prepared for players to reject multi-year contracts, as many players prefer year-to-year agreements that provide them with the flexibility to consider offers from various T20 franchises.