England have lost two ODIs against South Africa in the ongoing three-match series, and like clockwork, have resorted to tweaking their squads for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa and Ireland after each defeat. Following the mauling at Headingley, where the side was totalled for 131 runs, they added Jordan Cox to the Ireland T20Is.

The defeat at Lord’s, though not as miserable, had them exclude Ben Duckett from the squads to give the opening batter some respite ahead of next month’s white-ball tour of New Zealand, where the side will play three T20Is and as many ODIs. Duckett had a fantastic red-ball series against India in July, scoring 462 runs across five games, including a century in the first match. Prior to the Test series, he scored three fifties in the white-ball series in the Caribbean. However, his form has dwindled incredibly since then, with a dismal Hundred season followed by two ODIs against South Africa, where he made 5 off 8 and an uglier 14 off 33.

In his place, England have brought in Sam Curran, who solves two problems at once, aiding the side with the bat as well as his medium pace. His sublime returns in the Hundred and T20 Blast this summer earned him a recall for the T20Is, despite not playing a game for the national side since November last year.

With Duckett out, England will have to slot someone else in as an opener. Jamie Smith and Phil Salt are contenders to open against South Africa in the shortest format, while against Ireland, the side will have to turn to either Tom Banton or Will Jacks to replace Smith, who isn’t the part of squad.

England have also left out Matthew Potts from the Ireland squad. Potts will instead play for Durham in the County Championship to make a case for Ashes selection. With Jamie Overton, who announced a break from red-ball cricket to focus on shorter formats, out of contention, Potts has a realistic chance of flying to Australia in November for the five-game series.

Also, with Overton only focusing on limited-over cricket, Potts’ place in the Ireland T20Is starting XI was an uncertainty anyway; England would much rather have him exhibit his skills in the format he is needed than watch the team play in Ireland from the sidelines. He has already taken 23 wickets in eight games for the county club, and will be hoping to end the season on the right note to press for the call up.

Updated England T20I squads:

vs South Africa: Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.

vs Ireland: Jacob Bethell (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Jordan Cox, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood.