England vs West Indies: England announce Lord’s squad, Bopara out Bairstow in - Cricket News Update
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Sunday, announced its 13-member squad for the first Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, commencing at the historic Lord’s ground on Thursday, May 17, 2012.
Under fire http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Middlesex-c817 opener, Andrew Strauss, has been retained as the captain of the side for the home Test series against West Indies. Opening partner Alastair Cook will deputy Strauss in the Tests, before taking the charge in the ODI series, barring injury
or illness.
"We have selected a very strong 13-man squad which allows us to consider a number of options before making a decision about Thursday's side," England national selector, Geoff Miller, stated after announcing the squad.
The ECB selectors handed Jonny Bairstow his maiden Test call up after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kent-c802 on Chelmsford,
where he delivered only one over and played a painstaking 19-run knock off 69 deliveries with a runner.
Jonny Bairstow, a 22-year-old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yorkshire-c867 wicketkeeper batsman has played in six One Day Internationals so far and is yet to be capped in the longest format of the game.
National selector, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Geoffrey-Miller-c58870, said that Bairstow’s impressive form in the County Championship as well as his good show for England Lions earned him selectors’ nod.
"Jonny Bairstow has put in a number of impressive performances both for England http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 and Yorkshire and has been working hard on the England Performance Programme over the last couple of years," said Miller after announcing the squad.
"He is an exciting young player, who now has an opportunity to experience the Test environment," he added further.
If picked, Bairstow will not be required as wicketkeeper, as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Prior-c1984 is all set to keep wickets. He will rather fill the middle-order spot as a specialist batsman and will in all probability bat at number six.
The 13-man squad includes five pacers in James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Bresnan-c2711 and Graham Onions. Anderson and Broad are most likely to share the new ball.
"We have included five seam bowlers who have all demonstrated that they are capable of winning Test matches for England," said http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 off-spinner.
England squad: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/G-Onions-c1449
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