Jacob Bethell: England name all-rounder as youngest captain for Ireland tour

Jacob Bethell is set to become the youngest man to captain England in international cricket when the 21-year-old leads an understrength T20 side on a tour of Ireland in September.

With regular white-ball captain Harry Brook and England's other all-format players rested, the leadership for three T20s in Dublin has been handed to all-rounder Bethell, who has had limited playing time this summer.

Monty Bowden was 23 years and 144 days old when he led England in a Test against South Africa in 1889, and to date he remains the youngest man to have captained England in an international.

Prior to the Ireland tour, a full-strength England will play three one-day internationals and three T20s against South Africa, and Hampshire bowler Sonny Baker has been given a first call-up.

Baker has impressed with his lively pace bowling in The Hundred, taking two wickets in four matches for Manchester Originals so far.

Fast bowler Mark Wood has been left out of all of the squads, having not played since February after knee surgery.

He had been targeting a return in the fifth Test against India earlier this month before a setback and his continued absence is a concern given his importance to England's hopes in the Ashes this winter.

England say they are prioritising Wood's winter schedule, though his recovery is taking longer than expected. Bowler Gus Atkinson has also been left out.

Brydon Carse, who skipped The Hundred to manage his workload, is included among the attack options for the South Africa matches, along with Jofra Archer, Baker, Jamie Overton and Saqib Mahmood.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who has also impressed domestically this summer, has been recalled to the squads which will be led by batter Brook.

Phil Salt returns to the T20 squads to face South Africa and Ireland after paternity leave.

Despite both holding central contracts, there is still no place for all-rounders Sam Curran or Liam Livingstone – even in the squad for the Ireland series when the likes of Brook, Archer, Carse, Joe Root, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith are resting.

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