England's balancing act as the big hitters head back

ENGLAND will have their all-format batting stars back in white-ball action in the First ODI against India at the Kia Oval tomorrow, after their importance to the T20 side was underlined in the series defeat by India.

- Will Macpherson

England performed impressively in their T20 victory at Trent Bridge yesterday, but it was too late to salvage a series lost in heavy defeats at the Ageas Bowl and Edgbaston.

After misfiring in the first two matches, England's batting improved, with a score of 215, but India had heavily rotated their bowling attack ahead of the ODIS.

England's relentless schedule makes the availability of all-format players "a balancing act", according to white-ball head coach Matthew Mott.

Jos Buttler will have Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Ben Stokes back in his top five tomorrow for the first of three ODIS this week after long white-ball absences. The trio played starring roles in England's four recent Test wins over New Zealand and India. "I don't think they'll have to change a hell of a lot, the way they've been playing," joked Mott.