England are confident Jamie Smith will be fit for the Champions Trophy later this month despite ruling him out of the first two of three one-day internationals against India. Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman Smith felt discomfort in his calf during the third Twenty20 international in Rajkot, England’s solitary win here so far, and has been receiving treatment since. It is planned for the 24-year-old to effectively undergo a fitness test in the final match of the tour in Ahmedabad next Wednesday - which also happens to be the deadline for finalised Champions Trophy squads being lodged with the International Cricket Council.

Joe Root arrived over the weekend, bolstering a squad thrashed 4-1 in the T20s. England’s most prolific one-day centurion was meant to replace Rehan Ahmed in the travelling party, but the latter will now stay on for the trio of 50-over matches, allowing the option of playing two frontline spinners should conditions dictate. So far, England have rigidly stuck to a four-pronged pace attack supplemented by the world’s number one T20 bowler in Adil Rashid, in contrast to world champions India, who have used up to five spinners in an innings.

One certainty for the opening 50-over match in Nagpur on Thursday is Saqib Mahmood’s name featuring on England’s team sheet after he was axed for the record 150-run defeat at the Wankhede Stadium, despite reducing India to 12 for three with a stunning triple wicket maiden just 48 hours earlier in Pune. England are confident Jamie Smith (2nd right) will be fit for the Champions Trophy this month. Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman Smith felt discomfort in his calf during the third Twenty20.

Having opted for Mark Wood’s express pace instead, England coach Brendon McCullum spoke to Mahmood, saying: ‘It's a matter of trying to give these guys the opportunities, try and play them to a degree where they'll be most suited. I actually said to him after about 10 overs “it's not a bad one to miss, mate.” He was nodding his head at me. ‘I said: “Boss, everything you've done has been absolutely brilliant in the last game and we couldn't be happier with where you're at. You're going to play in the first ODI so get yourself ready for that.” It's just making sure you look after the guys and make sure you're being honest with them as well. We aren't going to get all of these decisions right but you've got a bit of an idea of what you're trying to achieve.’.

Wood got off lightly compared to his fellow bowlers, returning figures of 4-0-32-2, in the midst of Abhishek Sharma breaking India’s record for highest individual score (135) and most sixes in an innings (13). ‘First and foremost, the innings we saw from Abishek is as good an innings as we've ever witnessed in T20 cricket. He's not just doing it against any attack, he's doing it against four guys who bowl 90mph and an absolute gun leg-spinner,’ McCullum said.

‘I'm very realistic that when I see someone come out of the telephone box and play an innings like that, sometimes you throw all the different plans you want at it but if he's hitting it like that, you really can't stop it. We've seen so many players over the years in this format that have been able to do it - Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, AB de Villiers - and maybe Abishek Sharma is putting his hand up as one of those players.’.