Key batter rested by England with eye to the Ashes

England have taken decisive action after back-to-back ODI defeats against South Africa, resting the weary Ben Duckett from the forthcoming T20Is and recalling Sam Curran for the first time this year.

There have been calls to give Duckett a break ahead of this winter's Ashes, with the lively left-hander looking unusually subdued in the series against the Proteas.

Duckett is a first-choice all-format player, and is earmarked for a vital tempo-setting role against Australia this winter, but a draining summer of five full-blooded Tests against India followed by a month of The Hundred appear to have taken a toll.

The 30-year-old was off colour during his stint with Birmingham Phoenix in August and was unable to find rhythm as South Africa wrapped up wins at Headingley and Lord's.

He will now sit out the three 20-over games against the Proteas next week, though it remains to be seen if he will retain his spot at opener for Sunday's third ODI in Southampton.

Captain Harry Brook had rejected the idea that Duckett should be rested in the immediate aftermath of the narrow defeat at Lord's, but there has since been a rethink behind the scenes.

That includes an olive branch for the previously out-of-favour Curran. The Surrey allrounder has not played for his country this year, an exile that coincided with head coach Brendon McCullum taking over the reins of the white-ball team, but he's put together a strong season on the domestic circuit.

England great Stuart Broad has suggested some of the all-format players were running on empty.

"I thought England looked a bit tired. It's understandable, that is not me having a dig," he told Sky Sports Cricket.

"They played 25 days solid, hard cricket against India in the Test series and two days later they were straight into the The Hundred. Now they're playing a white-ball series and the winter is only getting busier.

"I think there are some jaded minds. The group look tired. I always look at body language in the field for how it's going and it felt pretty flat. That's a bit of a problem."