England's new management to focus on workload of multi-format players

England's managing director Rob Key, Test head coach Brendon McCullum and white-ball coach Matthew Mott will hold face-to-face meetings next week to work out how they will manage the workload of multi-format players in the coming months.

England are scheduled to play three One-Day Internationals and as many Twenty20 Internationals against both India and South Africa between July 7 and 31. Meanwhile, they also have to play a one-off Test against Rohit Sharma and Co. in Birmingham, which will get underway from July 1.

Test captain Ben Stokes is not likely to play limited-overs cricket this summer. And Key and McCullum want the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Joe Root and other multi-format players to feature in every Test series (subject to fitness), but the T20 World Cup in Australia is hardly a few months away and Mott would also want that there is no compromise made in the other two formats.

"We've got some meetings next week and we'll know a little bit more then. I haven't had a chance to sit down with Brendon and Rob and the rest of the selectors," Mott said after England whitewashed Netherlands 3-0 in ODIs.

"Once we get the opportunity to map out the little jigsaw puzzles that are going to be part of this going forward... we've all come in at pretty much the same time, so we're all open to getting the best way to work through things and getting face-to-face next week will be really important for that."

With the likes of Root and Bairstow being involved in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, England got an opportunity to try out some new players. The likes of Philip Salt and Brydon Carse were impressive and Mott wants these players to keep stepping up in the absence of some regular stars.

"The more opportunities you can give to players that far out from World Cups is absolute gold and you can't miss that. Whoever gets that opportunity, you want them to step up and they all have."

Meanwhile, England white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan has only managed one 50-plus score (75* v Sri Lanka in July 2021) in his last 26 international innings. The left-hander couldn't open his account in the first two ODIs against the Netherlands and missed the final encounter due to a tight groin, an injury he first suffered last month.

"He'd love more runs: most batters do. Over 200 games he's been a very, very good player and I don't think that's going to change. Of course, he'd love to get some runs and there are some opportunities coming up. Having sat out this game, I'm sure that will light the fire a little bit for him for the huge summer ahead," said Mott.

"We've already developed a great rapport. We caught up for a lovely lunch the other day in London and we share a lot of the same ideas: we both put the team at the forefront of our minds and work out how we get the best out of individuals to work as a team. He empowers others and believes in others. That really becomes obvious and I think the players thrive off that. They know he's got their back."

The Netherlands didn't stand a chance against England and it was Jos Buttler who was named Player of the Series. The wicketkeeper-batter smoked 162* off 70 deliveries in the first ODI but didn't get a chance to bat in the second ODI. He then slammed 86* off 64 in the final encounter to finish the series on a high. He batted at No. 4 in both the innings.

"The way we set up, he's listed at No. 5 but chatting to Morgs, there's always a chance he'll go up higher. He's the one player in the squad who is probably capable of batting anywhere and we'll just assess the conditions and the match as to exactly where he bats in the order.

"He's special. He just brings something that's very unique: the ability to hit the ball (for boundaries) off relatively good balls is something special. I thought at times the Netherlands bowlers really stuck to their task well but were still up against someone who was in a rich vein of form and has done that to a lot of the best bowlers around the world."