England announce T20 and ODI squad for Australian series
Buoyed by the outstanding form in the Ashes Test series thus far, the English selectors have named a strong squad for the T20 and ODI matches that follow the five match Test series that ends in Sydney in January.
The two teams are set to use the ODI series as a warm up for the ODI World Cup that is to be played in the Subcontinent next February, going on into April.
England and Australia have been drawn in different pools but can meet in either the quarter-finals or the semis stage of the tournament.
The national selector, Geoff Miller pointed out that the series would be primarily used as a build up to the premier ODI tournament, hence it was important that the English team puts up a good show in the series and build their
confidence levels before the all important tournament.
"While our focus is currently on retaining the Ashes in Australia we are excited by the prospect of taking on Australia in the limited-overs format as they are amongst the best in the world in the shorter form of the game," said
England national selector Geoff Miller.
"We believe we've picked a well balanced squad to cover both the two Twenty20 matches and the ensuing seven-match ODI series against Australia.
"This series will be the ideal lead up to the ICC World Cup which immediately follows the tour of Australia."
The Chief Selector observed that the English team has a settled look to it and has done very well in the 50 overs format lately. They won all three series against Australia, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 and Pakistan in the English summer.
However they were severely tested by both http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and Pakistan, with both teams winning two each out of their five match contests.
There is an injury concern that the selectors have to deal with, fast bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the series and a new comer Chris Woakes, walks into the side in his place.
"With Stuart Broad ruled out of the series we've needed to bolster our pace bowling stocks and Chris Woakes comes into the squad after knocking on the door for some time," stated Miller.
"Chris will be hungry for his international debut and vying for a place with a number of other quality pace bowlers, concluded Woakes.
The squad in the ODI arena is led by Andrew Strauss, while his deputy Paul Collingwood takes over the reins in the T20 format.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Craig-Kieswetter-c51708, the dashing wicket-keeper batsman is the only T20 specialist in the squad, the rest of the line-up takes part in both versions of limited over cricket.
Many believe that the current England team is a contender for the coveted prize in ODI cricket after a long time. The Poms have never won the World Cup despite making it to three of the first five finals.
However they have failed to qualify for the semis since their last final defeat at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1992.
The pundits are giving an outside chance to Strauss’s men and the reason for that is their new found killer instinct and professionalism under team Director http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362, yet the World Cup is set to be an enormous challenge for
all participating teams.
England squad: Andrew Strauss (http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yorkshire-c867), Steven Davies
(Surrey), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Craig Kieswetter (Somerset) - (T20 squad only), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Surrey-c851), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes
(http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sussex-c852), Michael Yardy (Sussex).
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