England name three debutants in their playing XI for 1st T20I against Australia

England cricket team have named three debutants ahead of their first of the three T20Is against Australia, set to begin on September 11 at Utilita Bowl in Southampton. Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, and Jamie Overton will make their T20I debuts, with Phil Salt set to captain the side.

Overton, a bowling all-rounder, has already played Test cricket for England, making his first and only appearance in June 2022 against New Zealand at the Headingley, Leeds. The 30-year-old has claimed 96 wickets in 141 T20s and averages 19.77 with the bat, but has a strike rate of 160.69.

Bethell, a batting all-rounder, has enjoyed a strong season for the Warwickshire Bears in the Vitality Blast, scoring 361 runs in 15 matches at 36.10. He also took six wickets.

Cox was with the Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka but didn't get a game. The right-handed batter had a promising season for Essex in the Vitality Blast this year, smacking 205 runs in eight matches, striking at 178.05. Cox is likely to bat at No. 3.

England playing XI: Phil Salt (c), Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Reece Topley.

Phil Salt to captain England for the first time

Salt will assume the captaincy for the first time since debuting for England in July 2021. The captaincy duties have fallen on the right-hander due to the calf injury to Jos Buttler, rendering him unavailable for the T20I series. With Buttler doubtful for the subsequent five-game ODI series too, Salt could lead the hosts yet again.

The English ast played a T20I during the World Cup this year, reaching the tournament's semi-final and losing to India. The side has undergone a significant change since the event as Matthew Mott stepped down as coach due to back-to-back unsuccessful World Cup campaigns. Marcus Trescothick will fill in as the interim coach.