Kieswetter edges Prior out of England ODI squad
As Craig Kieswetter’s stock continues to rise, Matt Prior has once again been left on the sidelines for England in the limited overs format.
After England’s Test wicketkeeper was omitted from what was ultimately a title-winning World Twenty20 squad in preference for the fast-scoring Kieswetter, the 22-year-old has now edged Prior out of the 13-man squad for the forthcoming ODI series against Australia.
Kieswetter has been earmarked for a role blazing away at the top of the order, as well as behind the stumps.
“Craig Kieswetter made a century in only his third one-day international on the tour of Bangladesh and continued to impress during the World T20 tournament in the Caribbean,” ECB national selector Geoff Miller said.
The Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman’s inclusion as an opener has also squeezed Alastair Cook out of the squad that will play Australia in June/July, with Cook and Prior now both seemingly confined to Test duties.
Skipper Andrew Strauss, who was rested from England’s most recent ODI series in Bangladesh, returns to the squad along with James Anderson, who also missed the series against the cricketing minnows.
Ian Bell, who could play a steadying role in the middle order for the series, has been given another chance in ODI cricket with Miller saying the batsman “has performed well for Warwickshire this season in limited-overs cricket and worked hard to add a more positive, attacking approach to his game in the 50-over format.”
Michael Yardy is another to win a place in the squad after proving a more than capable spin partner for Graeme Swann at the World Twenty20. His selection “also reflects our longer term planning for a World Cup in the Indian sub-continent next year in which spin bowling will be a major feature,” said Miller.
The full squad is: Andrew Strauss (captain, Middlesex), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Craig Kieswetter (wicketkeeper, Somerset), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Luke Wright (Sussex) and Michael Yardy (Sussex).
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