Phil Salt withdraws from West Indies T20I series, replacement announced

England batter Phil Salt has pulled out of the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Wednesday. The decision comes as Salt has taken paternity leave following the birth of his first child earlier this week.

The 28-year-old, who recently returned from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will stay in England to spend time with his family. Salt had briefly flown home during the IPL season to be with his partner, Abe Salt, before rejoining the RCB squad for their final game in Ahmedabad.

Salt played a vital role in RCB’s successful IPL 2024 campaign, scoring 403 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 175.98. His explosive starts at the top of the order helped the franchise secure their first-ever IPL title after 18 years.

With Salt unavailable, the ECB has named Surrey’s Jamie Smith as his replacement for the three-match T20I series. Smith, a wicketkeeper-batter, has impressed in domestic cricket and now gets a chance to showcase his skills at the international level.

The T20I series begins on June 6 at Chester-le-Street, with the second match scheduled for June 8 in Bristol and the final game on June 10 in Southampton.

England recently dominated the West Indies in the ODI series, securing a 3-0 clean sweep. Harry Brook, who led the side, was named Player of the Series for his consistent performances with the bat.

England squad for West Indies T20I series:

Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.