England has announced its squad for the ODIs against Scotland and Australia to be played later this month into July. It is a 13-man squad and has a couple of surprises including the inclusion of Ian Bell.
Craig Kieswetter has also continued to retain his place in the side, as a wicket-keeper batsman who can open the innings, while Michael Yardy makes it to the squad as well. Yardy was one of the most miserly bowler of the ICC World T20 and has been chosen to test Australia’s mettle against decent spin.
Tim Bresnan makes a comeback too after his second Test match injury against Bangladesh.
Explaining the selection, the chief of selectors for England, Geoff Miller, said, “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.”
He also said that Yardy’s inclusion was a result of his consistent performances for Sussex apart from the World T20 in the Caribbean and “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.”
England squad Andrew Strauss (capt), Craig Kieswetter, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Michael Yardy, Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom, Ian Bell