by Jamie Smith will open the batting for England in the first one-day international against West Indies as Harry Brook begins his tenure as permanent white-ball captain.
Smith, who averaged eight with a highest score of 15 while batting at No 3 in England’s dismal Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan earlier this year, will partner Ben Duckett at the top of the order at Edgbaston on Thursday, live on Sky Sports (1pm first ball).
New skipper Brook is slated to come in at No 4, behind Joe Root and ahead of the man he replaced as captain in Jos Buttler, who will also keep wicket in Birmingham during the series opener.
On Smith, who averages over 40 in Test cricket after 10 matches, Brook said: “‘Baz [head coach Brendon McCullum] and I have this desire that he could be an unbelievable white-ball opener. Baz actually said it in Pakistan to me and a few lads.
“I am not saying he has cemented his spot but he is going to get a good crack. He is such an immense player and can play the moving ball, as we have seen in Test cricket. There is no reason he can’t bang it as an opener.”
Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks complete the top seven and, along with Root, will assist Adil Rashid in the spin-bowling department, while Brydon Carse, now over a toe issue, will join Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton in the pace attack.
Fast bowlers Jofra Archer (thumb) and Gus Atkinson (hamstring) had already been ruled out of the ODI series through injuries.
