England faces a crucial moment as they head into the third T20 match against India on Tuesday in Rajkot. Trailing 2-0 in the five-match series, England has decided to retain an unchanged squad. Despite the recent two-wicket defeat, the team is determined to secure a victory and keep their hopes alive. Jamie Smith, who made an impressive T20 international debut with 22 runs off 12 balls, remains in the lineup under the leadership of captain Jos Buttler.
Mark Wood's return to the England side marks a significant development in the series. After being sidelined since August due to a stress fracture in his elbow, Wood has played in both matches. Although his performance has seen him take just one wicket and concede runs at an economy rate of 8.83 per over, his presence offers vital experience and skill to the team. Throughout the series, Wood has bowled a total of 5.5 overs.
Jacob Bethell's absence from the last match due to illness was a setback for England. However, he recovered sufficiently to participate in training on Monday, signaling potential availability for upcoming matches. Despite his recovery, the team management opted to continue with the current lineup for the third T20.
England's unchanged squad for the third T20 match includes notable names such as Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, and Adil Rashid. The team's strategy focuses on utilizing their strengths and improving upon past performances to reverse their fortunes against a strong Indian side.
The retention of Jamie Smith in the squad demonstrates faith in his abilities following an encouraging debut performance. England aims to harness his batting prowess along with contributions from other key players to mount a formidable challenge against India's bowling attack.
"It's no good sitting there saying 'that's it'. There are three games to play, three chances of a win." – Mark Wood
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