England choose Matt Prior over Steve Davies

The return of Matt Prior is the major surprise in England's 15-man World Cup squad after he was preferred to Steve Davies for the wicketkeeper's role. Davies was the original glove man in the one-day squad against Australia, but won't be travelling to the subcontinent as England make another change behind the stumps.

The rest of the squad was as expected with Ajmal Shahzad securing the final fast bowler's slot and James Tredwell, the Kent offspinner, named as back up for Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy. Paul Collingwood was included despite his recent omission against Australia, Luke Wright retained his spot as the spare allrounder and Stuart Broad is on track to recover from the stomach injury that kept him out since the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. 

The last-minute switch to Prior was unexpected and meant England changed their one-day wicketkeeper for the third time in less than a year. Prior last played against Bangladesh, in Chittagong, in March where he batted in the middle order before being replaced by Craig Kieswetter, who held the position until the series against Pakistan in September, when Davies earned a chance.

Davies scored 197 runs in five matches against Pakistan and when he was retained for the current series against Australia he appeared set for the World Cup. He made 42 in the opening ODI in Melbourne but it was a scratchy innings which included four let-offs. The selectors were not convinced he was the right man for the subcontinent so Prior, who has been playing in the Big Bash for Victoria since the end of the Ashes, gets another chance at the top of the order. He will link up with the squad in Hobart ahead of the second ODI, where he will open with Andrew Strauss.

"Matt Prior returns to the England ODI squad after a brief absence and given his recent form and his batting style, which is very well suited to the subcontinent conditions, we believe his inclusion is warranted," Geoff Miller, the national selector, said. "Despite some strong performances both with the bat and behind the stumps by Steven Davies, we feel that Matt's game will be better suited to the conditions in Bangladesh and India, the venues staging England's group matches." 

Prior has played 55 one-day internationals and averages 25.38 with a strike-rate of 74.80, while his record in India, where England will play five of their six group matches, is unflattering with 158 runs in 11 matches at an average of 17.55. However, he did finish the Ashes series in strong form with 85 in Melbourne and 118 in Sydney, and has since hit 51 off 29 balls for Victoria on his Big Bash debut against Tasmania. 

Prior is guaranteed his place in the starting XI but the same can't be said of Collingwood after he was dropped for the opening match against Australia so he could "clear his mind". He is expected to be given some match time towards the end of the one-day series and has been backed to be a key part of the World Cup.

"Paul Collingwood may not have scored as many runs as he would have liked so far on the tour of Australia but he has been a consistently strong performer for England in limited-overs cricket for a long period of time," Miller said. "His experience, ODI knowledge and skills across all three facets of the game make him a valuable member of the squad and he'll be looking to make a big impact at another global event." 

Miller was also confident the squad had the depth to cope with all the challenges that will be put forward during the tournament. "With spin bowlers set to play a prominent role in this World Cup we feel we have quality and depth in Graeme Swann, Michael Yardy and James Tredwell who have all shown their capabilities at international level," he said. 

"We believe we have selected an extremely exciting World Cup squad that offers balance with several options across the entire squad. With this tournament being staged on the subcontinent the conditions will require a specific style of cricket and we feel that we've selected a squad that can prosper in these conditions." 

Squad Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy

Mortaza misses World Cup squad

Mashrafe Mortaza has lost his race to be fit for the World Cup after being left out of Bangladesh's squad. Mortaza injured his right knee playing club cricket in Dhaka in December and in his absence Shakib Al Hasan will lead the side. 

It is frustrating for Bangladesh but they have enjoyed a string of good results under Shakib recently, including beating New Zealand 4-0 last October and Zimbabwe 3-1 in their most recent outing last December. Tamim Iqbal was confirmed as vice-captain of the side that could spring a surprise in familiar conditions at the World Cup in February. 

Squad Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Zunaed Siddique, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Roqibul Hassan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Md. Sohrawordi. 

Hussey bros, Lee included in Oz World Cup squad

Sydney: Mike Hussey was included in the final 15-man Australia squad for the World Cup announced on Tuesday despite a hamstring injury, while his brother David has earned a first call-up for cricket’s showpiece event.

Australia, who have won four of the nine World Cups including the last three, will use the same squad for the remaining six matches of the ongoing one-day series against England.

“(We have) selected a squad we believe is capable of winning a fourth successive World Cup in sub-continental conditions,” said chief selector Andrew Hilditch.

“It includes the experience of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Brett Lee, and also some young talent like Steve Smith.

“Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin were all also part of the victorious 2007 squad that went unbeaten in the Caribbean, so there is plenty of character in this group of Australian cricketers.”

Mike Hussey, Australia’s best batsman in an otherwise disappointing Ashes series, injured a hamstring in the first one-day international against England on Sunday.

A decision on treatment for the injury, described as “significant” in a team statement, will be made on Tuesday.

Leg spinner Nathan Hauritz has been preferred to left-armer Xavier Doherty as the specialist spinner with David Hussey and Steve Smith adding extra options.

Experienced campaigners Brett Lee and Shaun Tait have been joined in the pace bowling unit by Doug Bollinger with Peter Siddle missing out.

“Nathan Hauritz is our preferred spin option and his one-day record in India is excellent,” said Hilditch.

“He will be an important part of our bid for this fourth World Cup. Doug Bollinger has also been a strong performer for us in one-day cricket in India in recent times and we expect him to have a big impact on the tournament. “

Power batsman David Hussey had not played a one day international since 2009 when he was included in the side for the first match against England, which Australia won by six wickets.

The 33-year-old did not get a chance to bat, however, as Shane watson guided the Australians to victory with an unbeaten 161.

“David Hussey has been selected on the back of years of excellent interstate performances in all forms of the game and we feel he will play a crucial role for us in sub-continental conditions,” Hilditch added.

The World Cup being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19 to April 2.

Australia have been drawn in Group A for the opening stage along with Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Canada and Pakistan.

Squad - Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, Steve Smith, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

I have never run after captaincy, says Shahid Afridi

Pakistan's one-day skipper Shahid Afridi has said that he is under no threat regarding the World Cup captaincy issue as he had never run after the captaincy in his entire career. "I have never run after the captaincy in my entire career. It is something for the cricket board to decide. If they feel I am good enough to lead the team in the World Cup they will retain me if not, that is life," Afridi told the reporters before leaving for New Zealand for the one-day series, starting from January 22.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to announce the final squad and the captain for the World Cup and the performances of Misbah-ul-Haq as captain and batsman in the Tests in New Zealand have made him a strong candidate to lead the team in the World Cup.

Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad also left with Afridi to join the national team (playing the Test series) in New Zealand for the six-match ODI series, the last international outing for Pakistan before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Afridi said he was just focusing on the one-day series, which was his immediate task.
"I am taking no pressure over the captaincy. I am a senior pro and I know what I have to do," he said.

"It is obvious that if we do well in the one-day series and I also perform as a player it will help me and the team a lot," he added.

Afridi said the series in New Zealand was an important one for Pakistan as part of their preparations for the World Cup.

"If we win the series it will definitely boost our confidence ahead of the World Cup, although the tournament would be played in totally different conditions," he pointed out.

The flamboyant allrounder who has led Pakistan in T20 and ODIs since last year, said the team management and selectors had more or less finalised the combination for the World Cup.
"But the players selected for the New Zealand series have to perform well so that we can go into the World Cup with our confidence high."

New Zealand appoint Allan Donald as bowling consultant

New Zealand have hired former South African fast bowler Allan Donald as their bowling consultant.
The former player was recently associated with Zimbabwe Cricket for three months as a head coach for their domestic side, the Mountaineers.

Donald was offered to be a part of the Kiwi team under the recently appointed coach John Wright, and he accepted the offer. He had to request the Zimbabwe Cricket to release him from his contract with them.

Although the New Zealand cricket board has requested Donald to be a part of the team on temporary basis, the fast bowler is very excited about the opportunity.
He said, “I'm extremely grateful to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and the Mountaineers for agreeing to release me and I'm equally excited about the possibility of joining New Zealand Cricket on a more permanent basis.”
The former South African bowler further stated that he had learnt a lot from his experience with the Zimbabwean cricket team. Although he had been just a part of the team for three months, he said that he enjoyed the time with them.

Commenting on the Zimbabwean team, Donald said that he had seen a lot of potential in some players and the team was heading into the right direction. The Zimbabwe team will return to Test cricket in 2011 after the World Cup.

Donald was also excited to be a part of international cricket alongside John Wright. He stated, “The opportunity to return to international cricket was irresistible and to work with somebody of the stature of John Wright is something which doesn't come along every day and I can't wait to get started.”
The Kiwi team made many changes in the management after their disastrous run in 2010, the first one being the appointment of John Wright as the head coach in place of Mark Greatbatch.
The team is keen on improving their performance ahead of the ICC World Cup 2011 and Donald’s inclusion to the coaching staff seems a big step towards that.

New Zealand are currently engaged in a Test series against Pakistan where the hosts are trailing by 0-1 in the two-match series.

India World Cup 2011 squad announced

The BCCI national selectors-led by K Srikanth has announced the final 15-member squad for the forthcoming World Cup 2011 on Monday.

Not surprisingly, selectors have included four pacer and three spinners in the squad while the batting line-up is at par the expectations. The selection of batsmen indicates that selectors are not in mood to disturb the trusted order, which includes Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni.

However, exclusion of Ishant Sharma and Rohit Sharma from the final 15, was little bit surprising. Despite of selecting three wicketkeepers in the 30-member list of World Cup probables, Srikanth & Co. have shown interest in just one stumper (Dhoni).

Ravichandran Ashwin’s great run in the cricket field continues as he managed to get the World Cup ticket along with leg spinner Piyush Chawla.

Squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Piyush Chawla, R Ashwin

No Rohit Sharma in World Cup squad

The exclusion of middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma was the surprise in India's 15-man World Cup squad announced in Chennai. The other bone of contention had been the second specialist spinner's slot, and the selectors have picked both offspinner R Ashwin and legspinner Piyush Chawla, ahead of left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. Most of the other names in the squad were along expected lines.

India's major concern ahead of the team selection was the injuries to four first-choice players - Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and quick bowler Praveen Kumar - but the selectors picked all four, confident that they will be fit in time for the tournament which starts on February 19.

India's bowling attack for the World Cup will be significantly different from their standard Test attack, with only Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh being named. The fast bowling pair of Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma, and Ojha are all excluded while Munaf Patel, who helped India to a series-levelling victory over South Africa on Saturday, has found a place as the fourth seamer.

The selectors have gone in for a well-stocked slow bowling department, expecting traditional subcontinent tracks for the World Cup. Besides Harbhajan, there are two specialists in Ashwin and Chawla, an allrounder in Yusuf Pathan besides the part-time offerings of Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Virender Sehwag.

Chawla was also something of a surprise pick, though he is part of the one-day squad currently touring South Africa. He hasn't played any one-dayers for India since the Asia Cup in July 2008, and none of his 21 ODIs have been at home.

The squad also has only seven specialist batsmen, including MS Dhoni, which might be a worry in case of injuries. India haven't played their full-strength one-day side since the New Zealand tour in early 2009. There is no reserve keeper in the squad either, but that shouldn't be a concern as they can have one travel with them in case he is needed at short notice.

Kris Srikkanth, chairman of the national selection committee, was confident India could end their 28-year wait for a one-day World Cup. "This particular Indian team is doing brilliantly for the past couple of years in both Test and ODI cricket. They are playing consistently not only in India but outside," he told reporters after the team was announced. "We are confident this team will do well and win the World Cup for us in front of the home crowd."

He also defended the large spin contingent in the squad. "Don't forget that you are playing in India. The spinners probably play a very major role on the turning wickets. I am confident that the kind of balance we have, the kind of batting line-up we have, this team led by Dhoni will do the job for us."