England T20 stars recalled from BBL|11 early

A host of KFC BBL clubs are scrambling to find replacement players after the England and Wales Cricket Board summoned home members of their T20I squad early ahead of a tour to the West Indies later this month.

Six players including Sydney Thunder's Sam Billings and Saqib Mahmood were named in England's T20I squad late last month, but they had been expected to only miss their club's final two regular season matches (and any finals), with the England team required to assemble in the UK on January 15 for a flight to Barbados for the five-game series.

But the English imports have now been asked to return to the UK and enter pre-tour isolation by January 7.

England's 16-player T20I squad includes Billings and Mahmood (Sydney Thunder), George Garton (Adelaide Strikers), Chris Jordan (who has already returned home) and James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Tymal Mills (Perth Scorchers) and Reece Topley (Melbourne Renegades).

Sunday's game will be Billings and Mahmood's final appearance for the Sydney club – Garton was named an X-factor sub for the Strikers for the same game – while Mills likely signed off during Perth's victory over Melbourne Stars earlier the same day.

Topley has been named in the Renegade's squad for Monday's Melbourne derby, and it is yet to be seen whether Vince will sneak in one final match for the Sixers on Tuesday before departing. 

English signings Tom Abell and Ben Duckett (Brisbane Heat), Harry Brook and Jordan Thompson (Hobart Hurricanes), Joe Clarke (Melbourne Stars), Laurie Evans (Perth Scorchers) and Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder) weren't selected in the squad and will be able to remain with their BBL clubs for the remainder of the season.

With the fifth Vodafone Ashes Test set to finish in Hobart just four days before the first T20, no England player currently attempting to regain the urn in Australia was considered for selection in the 20-over squad.

Billings is a particularly big loss for the Thunder, having hit blistering knocks of 64 and 69 against the Heat and the Scorchers late last month, while 24-year-old speedster Mahmood nabbed 4-22 in a stunning debut against the Heat.

Vince has also established himself as the formidable opening partner of Josh Philippe during the Sixers' back-to-back BBL titles.

The Scorchers’ bowling depth should hold them in good stead to cover Mills, while the Renegades will need to find another bowler to use in the surge once Topley departs – however, that shouldn't be too much of an issue with the likes of Kane Richardson, James Pattinson and Mohammad Nabi on their list.

England will play the West Indies in five T20Is – all to be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados – from January 22-30.