Once you beat someone so hard in your home, you must expect revenge from them on their home.
Kevin Pietersen included in England squad for India tour
The England selectors today named the squad for the four week tour of India which includes five One-Day Internationals and an International Twenty20. Barring one or two decisions, it was an easy call for England selectors, management and Coach Andy Flower.
As expected England spearhead James Anderson is not included in the squad and rested to manage the workload. It was not a tough call for team management because Anderson has worst record in sub-continent pitches. Anderson is very ineffective if ball doesn’t swings as we saw in world cup where he conceded more than 6 an over in lot of matches. Since no test matches in the tour literary, it was very good call to rest Anderson rather risk his fitness and confidence.
Surprise is Stuart Meaker (add one more South African born player), Surrey pace bowler who gets his maiden call-up to England team. Kevin Peterson who was rested (can say dropped) in the home series against India is now back into the team for the tour of India. His last century came against India at Cuttack in 2008 where England was whitewashed in the ODI series. England added Scott Borthwick (wrist spinner) to the squad to aid spinning options available for the team in the sub-continent pitches along with Swann and Patel. It will be interesting to see how Steve Finn manages in this series after an impressive performance in the home series where he clocked 90mph constantly.
England selector Geoff Miller said, “This squad contains an exciting balance of experienced international cricketers along with some very talented younger players who can play the high quality limited-overs cricket needed to challenge India. A number of injuries and a decision to omit James Anderson in line with our policy of sensibly managing player workloads give opportunities for other very talented players to continue to develop as international cricketers”.
ODI squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Jonathan Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Scott Borthwick, Tim Bresnan, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meaker, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Chris Woakes.
Jos Butler, the man who smashed Indian bowlers in the last ODI between England and India is not selected for ODI series but available for only T20 match along with Alex Hales. Graeme Swann will be the captain for England T20 team since Stuart Broad is unavailable.
We have to say a very good selection by England team management. They rested Jimmy since he won’t be effective, called back Peterson to add more fire power in the middle order for slow wickets and added a wrist spinner to increase the spinning option.
A leggie, right-arm and left-arm off-spinner, you have to say that England are coming with a force to challenge India but only time will tell whether they strike or flee.
Tags: Andy Flower, Cricket, England, India, Kevin Pietersen, ODI Series, Squad
