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Bell and Bresnan back in England ODI squad

Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan were both included in England’s 13-man squad announced for the upcoming five-match home ODI series against world champions Australia.

Top order batsman Bell last played a one-day international in 2008 while pace bowling all-rounder Bresnan, a member of the England side that beat Australia in last month’s World Twenty20 final in Barbados, was included after missing last week’s second Test win over Bangladesh with a foot injury.

Bresnan’s presence in the squad meant he edged out fellow Yorkshire seamer Ajmal Shahzad, who made his Test debut at Old Trafford.

As expected, Test captain Andrew Strauss leads the squad, having been rested from all of the tour of Bangladesh earlier in the year and then missing the World Twenty20 success as he no longer plays in that format of the game.

Strauss and fellow batsman Bell were the only two players not involved in the World Twenty20 triumph in the Caribbean to be included in an England squad which features Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood, fit again following a shoulder injury.

South Africa-born wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter, man of the match in the World Twenty20 final for his dashing 63 made opening the innings, replaced Test gloveman Matt Prior as the sole keeper in the ODI squad.

‘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,’ said England national selector Geoff Miller.

‘He has been earmarked for a role at the top of the order, and I am sure he will be relishing the opportunity to test himself against high-quality opposition,’ the former England off-spinner added.

Turning to Bell, Miller said: ‘He has performed well for Warwickshire this season in limited-overs cricket and worked hard to add a more positive, attacking approach to his game in the 50-over format.’

England were thrashed 6-1 at home to Australia in a one-day series last year after Strauss’s men had regained the Ashes but have since won limited overs series away to South Africa and Bangladesh.

‘We are very pleased with the progress our one-day squad has made under the leadership of Andrew Strauss and (coach) Andy Flower over the past 18 months,’ Miller said.

‘The challenge facing the squad now is to maintain the form they showed over the winter against the world’s number one side in 50-over cricket.’

England face Scotland in a one-day international in Edinburgh on June 19 before taking on Australia in the series opener at Hampshire’s Rose Bowl ground three days later.

England ODI squad

Andrew Strauss (capt), Craig Kieswettter (wkt), Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Michael Yardy

Fixtures

June 19: ODI v Scotland, Edinburgh

June 22: 1^st ODI v Australia, Rose Bowl (d/n)

June 24: 2^nd ODI v Australia, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (d/n)

June 27: 3^rd ODI v Australia, Old Trafford

June 30: 4^th ODI v Australia, The Oval (d/n)

July 03: 5^th ODI v Australia, Lord’s

Note: d/n = day/night