Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow set to be ousted from England white-ball setup - Reports

Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow have suffered a dip in forms since 2023 and are set to face the axe from the white-ball teams.

England are moving away from some of the players who won the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and were part of the last two ICC tournaments in which England suffered disappointing exits. Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow, part of England’s golden generation in white-ball cricket, are set to be dropped from both ODI and T20I teams for the upcoming home matches against Australia.

From September 11, Jos Buttler’s side will host Australia for three T20Is and five ODIs. As the Three Lions start preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Ali and Bairstow are not in their plans anymore. Further, powerful all-rounder Liam Livingstone is also likely to be snubbed from the ODI setup.

White-ball coach Matthew Mott has already been sacked as England suffered a group-stage exit in the World Cup 2023 and a semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Age to be a big factor in the dropping of Moeen and Bairstow

Bairstow and Moeen both were part of the England squads that won the 2019 World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup. But they are now “under threat” of being excluded from the squad to face Australia, according to a report in The Telegraph. Apart from their underwhelming form in the last couple of years, their age also is a factor.

“For both players their ages – Moeen is 37, Bairstow turns 35 next month – counts against them,” the Telegraph report stated.

As for Livingstone, the England selectors don’t see him fitting in the ODI side anymore.

“Liam Livingstone also faces an anxious wait before the squads are announced. He is more likely to regain his place in the T20 squad than in ODIs,” the report added.

England captain Jos Buttler missed The Hundred season this year due to a calf injury. Buttler has not played since the T20 World Cup in June.

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