After Chris Woakes, ECB drops star player from The Hundred final ahead of England vs Sri Lanka Tests

The England Cricket Board (ECB) is taking a cautious approach for its players after Test captain Ben Stokes was injured. After excluding Chris Woakes from The Hundred, the ECB has ruled out star pacer Gus Atkinson from the final of the competition.

Atkinson, who played only one match for his franchise Oval Invincibles, will miss the final of the tournament. The Invincibles are already in the final after topping the eight-team table and will avoid the long route through the eliminator.

Invincibles captain Sam Billings confirmed the news. “Gus has been dropped from the squad, which is understandable. It’s disappointing for him, but Saqib Mahmood has been brilliant for us throughout the tournament and showed his class last night. He will remain in the squad,” Billings said.

Their squad also does not feature fast bowler Spencer Johnson who is out due to injury. However, fast bowler Tom Curran will return to the squad. He was rested from the Invincibles’ last group game against Trent Rockets on Wednesday, August 14.

Atkinson took part in the game against the Rockets and achieved figures of 0/28 off 10 balls. Notably, the 26-year-old fast bowler was named Player of the Series in the England vs West Indies Test series. He took 22 wickets against the Windies in his debut series.

Recently, the ECB ruled out fast bowler Woakes from the final week of the Hundred due to Stokes’ injury. England Test captain Stokes, who plays for Northern Superchargers, tore his hamstring in the game against Manchester Originals on August 11.

Woakes and Atkinson have withdrawn, while Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett of Birmingham Phoenix and Jordan Cox of the Invincibles remain available, although their names are in the Test squad for the series starting on August 21, three days after the Hundred final.

“Jordan will be available and I think that’s great for him,” Billings said. “I’ve been in a situation before where as a young player, you step back and lose playing time. Playing in a final at Lord’s in the premier domestic competition in the country, in front of a packed house, is the perfect preparation for international cricket.”

Jofra Archer is expected to be available for Southern Brave for the knockouts. “I haven’t heard anything other than that so I hope that’s the case,” Brave captain James Vince said. “Obviously we have to take care of tomorrow first but as I understand it, if we make the final he’s available for both. I can’t give you a 100% confirmation because honestly I don’t know that myself. But there’s not a lot of travel involved and it’s only 20 balls (per match) so I’m sure he’ll be fine,” he said.

The Invincibles await the winner of the eliminator between Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave. The eliminator will take place on Saturday, August 17, while the final will take place on Sunday.