Harry Brook will captain England in a T20I against India less than 48 hours after finishing a Test match, if their series decider against New Zealand goes the distance.
England's third and final Test against New Zealand starts on Thursday, meaning that a fifth day could run until Monday evening. Brook, as England's white-ball captain, would then travel around 150 miles from Nottingham to Chester-le-Street on Tuesday before leading England in their first T20I against world champions India on Wednesday evening.
England have named an enlarged 17-man squad for the five-match T20I series, which features the uncapped Sussex allrounder James Coles but is otherwise very similar to the side that lost to India in the T20 World Cup semi-finals in March. Jos Buttler retains his spot after a quiet World Cup, while Liam Dawson is another notable retention at 36.
Brook is one of six players named in the squads for both the third Test and the T20I series, along with Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox and Josh Tongue. England are highly unlikely to ask any fast bowlers involved at Trent Bridge to play in the first T20I but Bethell looks set to join Brook in playing both matches.
"We have selected a larger squad to accommodate for the fact that this series will begin shortly after the Test series against New Zealand is due to conclude which allows us to be flexible," Marcus North, England's new national selector, said in a statement.
It is not the last time that England players will face tight turnarounds this summer. Several players, including Brook, are likely to be involved in both the third and final ODI against India on July 19 and the opening game of the Hundred on July 21, while the Hundred's final is on August 16, with England's first Test against Pakistan starting three days later.
Coles, 22, has won his first call-up after impressing for Sussex, in franchise cricket, and for England Lions in recent seasons. He is a left-arm spinner who bats in the middle order and was the most expensive player at the inaugural Hundred auction earlier this year, earning a £390,000 contract from London Spirit.
"James Coles is an exciting addition and has earned his place following his performances with the England Lions and in T20 competitions here and abroad during the past 12 months," North said.
Cox, Sonny Baker and Saqib Mahmood are the three other inclusions from the squad that went to the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Jamie Overton (quad) misses out through injury, while Ben Duckett has been left out after he went unused in India and Sri Lanka. Brydon Carse (hand) was also deemed unavailable.
Buttler has not played any cricket since reaching the IPL final with Gujarat Titans but is expected to play in the T20 Blast this week. Phil Salt, who broke a finger while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is also set to feature alongside Buttler for Lancashire.
The India series marks the start of a new T20I cycle for England, leading into the Olympics (where England players are likely to dominate the Team GB squad) and the T20 World Cup in 2028. It will also see Shreyas Iyer take over from Suryakumar Yadav as India's captain, while teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could make his international debut.
India named a strong squad for the three-match ODI series that follows on Sunday, featuring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (fitness permitting) and Jasprit Bumrah. England are yet to name their squad for the 50-over leg, with questions to answer around the identity of Duckett's opening partner and the balance of their side.
England T20I squad vs India
Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood
Changes from T20 World Cup:
In: Baker, Coles, Cox, Mahmood
Out: Ben Duckett (dropped), Jamie Overton (quad)
Fixtures
July 1 - 1st T20I, Chester-le-Street
July 4 - 2nd T20I, Old Trafford
July 7 - 3rd T20I, Trent Bridge
July 9 - 4th T20I, Bristol
July 11 - 5th T20I, Southampton