ENGLAND will today reveal their Twenty20 thinking under new coach Andy Flower hot on the heels of their enterprising Lord’s Test squad.
Paul Collingwood is expected to be reappointed as captain of the side for June’s World Twenty20, having also led his country in the previous tournament in South Africa two years ago.
His short limited-overs reign was dogged by controversy – he upheld an appeal for a run out against New Zealand after a mid-pitch collision and was then banned for a slow over rate last summer.
England were also outclassed by their opponents in the inaugural competition, both in terms of tactics and ability.
But with Test and one-day international captain Andrew Strauss not considered either by himself or the England management to be suited to cricket’s quick fix, the selectors were forced to look elsewhere.
Leading players Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff have both been tainted by their spells in charge, so Collingwood appears to be the most obvious choice as the other established player in the preliminary 30-man party who is guaranteed to hold down a place in the side.
Three other men from the county circuit, veteran Shaun Udal, who fronted 2008 champions Middlesex at last autumn’s Stanford Series, Hampshire’s Dimitri Mascarenhas, arguably England’s most successful representative in the Indian Premier League, and England Lions captain Robert Key, were alternatives.
All have been successful with their counties on the domestic scene and knowledge of the game is something that England’s leading players are lacking due to heavy international scheduling.
Rarely do England’s main men get the chance to turn out for their club sides during the summer and a lack of savvy has been exposed in national colours on occasion.
So, although Twenty20 is thought of as a young man’s game, the selectors will need to include plenty of nous of what works well in the format and in English conditions in particular.
Meanwhile, England will also today announce their one-day party to face West Indies in three matches next month.
England’s possible 15-man World Twenty20 squad: Paul Collingwood (Durham), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), James Foster (Essex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Robert Key (Kent), Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire), Graham Napier (Essex), Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Shaun Udal (Middlesex).
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