Prior is surprise inclusion in England’s World Cup squad
By IANSWednesday, January 19, 2011
LONDON - Wicket-keeper batsman Matt Prior Wednesday was a surprise inclusion in England’s 15-member squad for the World Cup starting in the Indian subcontinent February 19.
Prior’s inclusion raised some eyebrows as he was out of the one-day side for 10 months. Ashes winner Chris Tremlett was the only other member of the current touring squad in Australia to be overlooked as England went with a four-man seam attack in the tournament that will be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The 28-year-old Prior is set to partner captain Andrew Strauss at the top of the order, where he had struggled before losing his place in the team following the tour of Bangladesh last March.
Prior averages just 25.38 in 50-over cricket but team director Andy Flower believes the right-hander, who enjoyed a good Ashes series with the bat and gloves, will thrive at the World Cup.
“It was a tough decision. Steve Davies was picked in our last one-day series, he did okay against Pakistan. We picked him for this series in Australia because of the conditions out here, but as we get closer to the World Cup, we’ve made that adjustment and we want Prior to get a few games under his belt before we get out there,” Flower was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.
“We believe that Matt Prior is best suited to the sub-continent conditions and that’s why we’ve picked him,” Flower said.
“The circumstances have changed. Matt Prior did very well out here in the Test matches. He is a combative, aggressive cricketer. He fits our aggressive fielding unit so those are the reasons why he has been picked for the World Cup.”
Flower admitted Davies, who will remain in Australia for the rest of the current seven-game series as a back-up to Prior, had been left deflated.
“Of course, he is disappointed. Any player would be very disappointed to be left out of the England side,” he added.
“It’s going to be very tough to win the World Cup. Of course, all nations will be desperate to do so,” Flower said.
“I think our one-day cricket has improved significantly over the past couple of years and I believe we can do well over there.”
England World Cup squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wicketkeeper), Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy
