BEN STOKES has not been named in England’s IT20 squad for their upcoming matches against Australia and India due to an injury sustained against Pakistan earlier this month. 

However, the 14-man squad does contain the uncapped Sam Curran — who made his Test debut at Headingley this month.

England announced on Monday that the hamstring tear Stokes suffered was “progressing well,” and it was hoped he may be able to play in the three-match Twenty20 series starting against India on July 3.

That option still appears possible, because the key all-rounder will travel with the squad chosen for those three matches and the one-off fixture against Australia which will follow the ongoing one-day international series at Edgbaston on June 27.

Seamer Mark Wood is rested from the squad, with Jake Ball instead in the running to win his first Twenty20 cap, while there are a clutch of notable omissions.

Batsman Dawid Malan has made four half-centuries in just five Twenty20 appearances to date — including two in succession in England’s most recent matches in New Zealand last winter. He averages exactly 50 in the format, with a strike rate above 150.

There is no place for him, however, along with short-format regulars Sam Billings and Liam Dawson.

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow return alongside Moeen Ali, after the Yorkshire pair were rested from England’s Twenty20 programme last winter.