Yorkshire trio Adil Rashid, Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad were today named in England’s preliminary 30-man squad for next year’s World Cup on the sub-continent.
Bresnan and Shahzad are currently part of England’s Ashes party, while Rashid – from Heaton – has been called up for England Lions’ tour to the West Indies in January.
Also named in the World Cup squad is Stuart Broad, who is hoping to be fit in time after the abdominal injury which ended his series Down Under.
Steve Finn has yet to play a limited-overs match for his country but has become a pivotal member of the Test team and gets a place, as does former Yorkshire opener Michael Lumb.
Also in the squad, which will be halved on January 19 for the six-week tournament starting a month later, are Test wicketkeeper Matt Prior – one of three glovemen in the party – and opener Alastair Cook.
Miller explained the reasoning behind the preliminary presence of Finn and another fellow fast bowler, Chris Tremlett.
He said: “Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett continue to impress with their development after strong performances domestically and with the England team at international level.”
There is also a return to the reckoning for Nottingham-shire all-rounder Samit Patel, long discarded after qualms about his general fitness.
Miller added: “Samit Patel has also been included in this preliminary squad and – along with every other player named – will be required to meet individual fitness criteria before the squad is finalised.
“There is still some time to pass before the final squad is selected, so all 30 players have sufficient time to press for selection.”
England are drawn in a group alongside Bangladesh, India, Ireland, Netherlands, South Africa and West Indies.
They will play two warm-up games against Canada and Pakistan before beginning their World Cup campaign on February 22 against Nether-lands in Nagpur.
England’s 30-man provisional squad for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup: A Strauss (capt), J Adams, J Anderson, I Bell, R Bopara, T Bresnan, S Broad, P Collingwood, A Cook, S Davies, J Dernbach, S Finn, J Hildreth, C Kieswetter, M Lumb, E Morgan, S Patel, K Pietersen, L Plunkett, M Prior, A Rashid, A Shahzad, D Stevens, G Swann, J Tredwell, C Tremlett, J Trott, C Woakes, L Wright, M Yardy.
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