After having 7 cases of Covid-19 recorded in their camp, England have now named an inexperienced 18-man replacement squad for their ODI series against Pakistan.

Three players and four staff members  have tested positive for Covid-19.

More problematic, with the first ODI due to begin in Cardiff on Thursday, is that the rest of the ODI squad is now required to self isolate.

Every cloud has a silver lining, with this situation offering nine players the chance to play for England for the first time.

Ben Stokes is the notable exception, who is back in the squad after sustaining a broken finger earlier in the year.

Chris Silverwood will also return to coach the new squad after having taken a break before the test summer resumes in August.

An ECB statement said the following: " [Those impacted by positive tests] will now observe a period of self-isolation from 4 July following the UK Government's protocol on quarantine. The remaining members of the party have been deemed close contacts and will also isolate."

ECB chief executive officer Tom Harrison added: "We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak.

We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.

Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duties to captain."

England ODI squad for Pakistan series

Ben Stokes (Durham, captain), Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Danny Briggs (Warwickshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Tom Helm (Middlesex), Will Jacks (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Matt Parkinson (Lancashire), David Payne (Gloucestershire), Phil Salt (Sussex), John Simpson (Middlesex), James Vince (Hampshire).