David Willey to miss T20 Blast Finals Day as England refuse to release stars

Yorkshire will go into Saturday’s T20 Blast Finals Day without their captain, David Willey, after England declined to release any of the players involved in Thursday’s ODI against India for the showpiece event at Edgbaston.

Three players who were not in the England XI for the emphatic win over India which levelled the series will be allowed to play, with Phil Salt and Matt Parkinson joining up with Lancashire and Harry Brook available for Yorkshire.

England’s stance means Lancashire will be without Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone, Yorkshire denied the services of Willey, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, and Somerset missing Craig Overton. All six will remain with the international squad ahead of the decisive ODI at Old Trafford on Sunday, where England are expected to name an unchanged team.

The original summer schedule would have seen the white-ball series conclude at Lord’s on Thursday, allowing all players to rejoin their counties for the weekend, but it was reorganised to squeeze in a rearranged fifth Test against India, held over from last year.

After his starring role in England’s 100-run victory at Lord’s, where he scored 41 and conceded just 27 runs in his nine overs while taking the key wicket of Virat Kohli, Willey had said he was unsure whether he would be involved in Finals Day. “If I am there, great,” he said. “If I’m not there is plenty of talent and ability in the Yorkshire side to get us across the line.”

In a 57-game, seven-year ODI career two of Willey’s three best economy figures have come this week, with the team’s performance in bowling India out for 146 at Lord’s to level the series particularly sweet.

“A lot of the time in England we play on very good pitches, 300-plus [scores], and it’s hard being a