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Pietersen back in England ODI team, rested for T20s

Source:PTI
November 28, 2012 20:41 IST

Star batsman Kevin Pietersen returned to the One-Day International side but was rested from the Twenty20 Internationals as England announced their squads for the limited-over series against India starting next month.

Pietersen, who returned to the Test side for the ongoing series after being sidelined due to the text message scandal during the home rubber against South Africa earlier this year, did not figure in the 13-strong England squad for the two T20 Internationals in Pune (December 20) and Mumbai (December 22).

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He was, however, named in the 15-member ODI squad for the five-match series which begins at Rajkot on January 11. Pietersen played his last ODI in February against Pakistan in Dubai and was not picked for the home ODI series against South Africa following the text message scandal.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann, who contributed substantially in England's 10-wicket victory over India in the second Test, has been omitted from both the squads as the England and Wales Cricket Board went for rotational policy.

Stuart Broad will lead the Twenty20 side which has Surrey pace bowler Stuart Meaker as the only uncapped  player. Two members of the 13-man squad were not involved in England's recent ICC World T20 campaign -- James Tredwell and Stuart Meaker.

Steven Finn, who missed the first two matches of the ongoing Test series against India due to an injury, figured only in the ODI squad to be led by Alastair Cook.

Fast bowler James Anderson will be in the squad for the warm-up fixtures and first three ODI matches only. He will be replaced by Stuart Broad for the two remaining ODIs, an ECB release said.

National selector Geoff Miller said the ECB will have to resort to the rotation of players to manage their workload, apparently in view of the back-to-back Ashes Series coming up.

"We are constantly looking to manage the workload of players as effectively as possible and this winter is no different so there are number of players who are being rested for parts of the winter programme. This will enable them to take part in fitness and conditioning programmes in preparation for a busy 2013," he said.

"We have selected squads containing experienced international players alongside younger players who have impressed playing for England Lions and the England Performance Programme recently and who deserve an opportunity to establish themselves in the England side," said Miller.

"We know that playing limited-overs cricket in India can be challenging but the T20 and ODI series provide an excellent opportunity for these players to show that they have learnt valuable lessons from the last ODI series against India and improved as players in sub-continent conditions," he added.

England T20 squad: Stuart Broad (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, James Tredwell, Luke Wright.

England ODI squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, James Anderson/Stuart Broad.

Source: PTI
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