England's depth is regularly tested in white-ball cricket, where some of their all-format players are regularly unavailable due to their Test commitments. However, after handing out 39 central contracts this week encompassing all formats, they have more than enough players to put out three XIs at the same time.

So, a panel of Wisden contributors – Dan Senior, Katya Witney, and Will Hewlett – sat down in a selectors' meeting scenario to try and select a team for each format, with players only allowed to be picked for one of them.

Thus, compromises had to be made over players who would make England's best XI in all formats. 

Test

Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Olly Stone, Josh Tongue

Both incumbent Test openers have kept their positions. Emilio Gay has so far only played in the Test format, while Ben Duckett lost his T20I spot earlier this year. He could, however, have been better placed in the ODI side, but England have more options at the top of the order in ODIs than they do in Tests, so Duckett stays put.

Nos.3-5 would all likely make England's best XI across all formats (apart from Joe Root, who last played a T20I in 2019). Given Test cricket's elevated status, and again that England have more options with experience in the shorter formats than they do in Tests, all three of Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook and Root are locked into the Test team. As is Dan Lawrence, who takes the all-rounder and spinner slot as per his current Test role. His inclusion means that Shoaib Bashir doesn't feature in any of the three teams.  

With Jamie Smith locked in as keeper, down to No.7, the Test team is exactly what England's most recent Test XI looked like. Three out of four of the incumbent bowlers also make the cut – Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue. The only difference in the team the panel picked was the fourth pacer, which went to Olly Stone. Stone hasn't played a Test match for two years, and was left off the list of ECB central contracts which were announced this week. Nevertheless, he was in outstanding form in the County Championship this year, taking 50 wickets in 11 matches, including five five-fors.

ODI

Tom Banton, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Hain, Jordan Cox (wk), Will Jacks, James Coles, Liam Dawson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood

The ODI side looks less similar to England's current XI. At the top, in a throwback to their world-beating ODI era, Jonny Bairstow wins a surprise recall. With several of England's 50-over opening options preferred to the T20I side, Bairstow got the nod, despite last playing for England in any format more than two years ago. He's joined by Tom Banton, who scored his maiden international century in an ODI against Sri Lanka last month. 

At three is Sam Hain, who, despite boasting the second-highest List A average of all time, has only ever played two ODIs, against Ireland back in 2023. Jordan Cox is picked as the side's wicketkeeper, after he also starred when he stepped in for Jos Buttler in the final ODI against Sri Lanka this summer. The 50-over format was also designated as Will Jacks' best format, providing an all-round spin option in the top five, along with James Coles, who was given a wildcard at No.6

Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid were both prioritised for the 50-over format as rare bankers to send down 10 overs among the English spin contingent. Jofra Archer was also swapped out of the Test side and into the 50-over side to provide experience to a fairly thin pace attack. Alongside him among pacers were Brydon Carse in the much-fabled Liam Plunkett middle-over role, with Saqib Mahmood back in after impressing against India earlier in the year.

Also Read: Can we pick three different India XIs across formats without any repeats?

T20I

Aneurin Donald, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Paul Walter, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Luke Wood, Richard Gleeson, Sonny Baker

The T20I side also looks similar to England's current XI. Aneurin Donald keeps his spot alongside Phil Salt, with Jos Buttler's availability prioritised for his impact potential in the shortest format. Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran make up the middle order, with Rehan Ahmed entrusted with the spin responsibilities in the absence of Rashid and Dawson.

The bowling attack looks less similar to England's current side. Jamie Overton and Sonny Baker were both part of the T20I series against Sri Lanka, but the other three pace options were not. With pacers used up in the Test and 50-over teams, Richard Gleeson won a surprise call-back from the franchise circuit, fending off a charge from Scott Currie for inclusion. Luke Wood also makes the side. Wood was somewhat surprisingly left off the ECB central contracts list, but was selected in England's T20I squad for their tour of Australia later this year. 

The final spot went to a wildcard. Paul Walter slots in at No.6 after making an impact with the bat in The Hundred this year. His height and left-arm angle also make him a valuable possibility with the ball.

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