Door still open on World Cup places, says England selector
ENGLAND cricket chiefs insist the door remains wide open for players to stake a claim for a place in their World Cup plans after the squad for the one-day international series and T20 clash against India was announced yesterday.
Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales, who averages 37.85 from 32 Twenty20 appearances but is yet to play a one-day international, has received a call-up while seamer Steve Finn is also included in the 15-man squad for the five-match contest, which starts at Bristol on Monday.
Limited overs cricket now takes centre stage with England facing a raft of matches before their World Cup opener against Australia in Melbourne next February, and selector James Whitaker believes opportunity knocks for players with international ambitions.
“With plenty of domestic limited overs cricket still to be played this season and a series against Sri Lanka in November before finalising our World Cup squad, there are still opportunities for us to consider a number of players who have missed out on selection,” said Whitaker.
All-rounder Ravi Bopara has been overlooked for the upcoming series, while Tim Bresnan and Michael Carberry have also been dropped from the group on duty against Sri Lanka earlier this summer.
Aside from Stuart Broad who requires knee surgery, Middlesex opener Sam Robson is the only player from the Test side, which wrapped up a 3-1 series win against India at the Oval on Sunday, not to be included in the squad.
One-day regulars Eoin Morgan and James Tredwell retain their places, as does left-arm seamer Harry Gurney who made his debut against Scotland in May as Peter Moores returned to the England helm.