England have omitted several first-choice bowlers and a batsman for the ODI series against New Zealand.

Pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad, as well as senior batsman Ian Bell, were all left out from England’s one-day squad.

Given England face Australia in a five-Test Ashes series starting in Cardiff on July 8, it was no great surprise Anderson and Broad were left out of a one-day squad announced shortly after they both featured in a 199-run second Test defeat by New Zealand at Headingley on Tuesday.

Also omitted were top-order batsmen Bell and Gary Ballance, as well as off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali, who all featured in the second Test as well.

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, David Willey, Mark Wood – AFP

COOK URGES BATSMEN TO FIND FORM

Alastair Cook still believes England can regain the Ashes this summer but he has told the struggling batsmen Ian Bell and Gary Ballance they must go away and put their games in order before the first Test against Australia in Cardiff on 8 July.

‘Clearly they haven’t scored the runs – that is the black and white of it,’ said Cook, who was named man of the series for England after scoring 309 runs in four innings.

‘They have five weeks to go away and find form. They are fantastic players and their records suggests that.

‘They will be concerned because they haven’t scored the runs but it wasn’t long ago I was struggling and form comes and goes. They have a lot of hard work to do but two games in isolation don’t make you a bad player.’ – guardian.co.uk

DAVIS CALLS IT A DAY

Australia’s Steve Davis will retire after 25 years as an umpire at the conclusion of the forthcoming one-day international series between England and New Zealand.

Davis made his first-class umpiring debut in 1990/91 and his first Test appointment came in 1997 when he stood in the match between Australia and New Zealand in Hobart.

During his illustrious career, Davis has umpired in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 Cricket World Cups, 2009 and 2013 Champions Trophy tournaments as well as all five World Twenty20 events. – AFP

OLD MAN VOGES IN LINE FOR DEBUT

Adam Voges is poised to make a Test debut at the age of 35 in the wake of Chris Rogers’ absence with concussion, with Australia set to overlook leg spinner Fawad Ahmed and instead go for pace in the first Test against the West Indies starting on Wednesday.

Shaun Marsh is set to feature at the top of the order in Rogers’ place, while Voges will likely feature in the middle order. Nathan Lyon is primed to be the first-choice spinner, as they will resist the urge to play two spinners. – smh.com.au