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England recall Solanki, drop Jones

August 06, 2004 20:20 IST
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Worcestershire batsman Vikram Solanki has been recalled to the England squad for next month's ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament.

Fast bowler Simon Jones, who returned to the Test side this year after a knee injury, has missed out on the 14-man squad along with promising batsman Ian Bell, and all-rounders Ricki Clarke and Ian Blackwell.

"We have recalled Vikram Solanki because he gives us options at the top of the order and is an outstanding fielder," chairman of selectors David Graveney said on the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) web site. "He has been in fine form for his county in both forms of the game."

Off-spinner Gareth Batty has also made the side as the selectors opted for two spinners with the inclusion of the rejuvenated Ashley Giles for the 12-team tournament that begins on September 10.

"We are playing at the back end of the season and we may find ourselves on used wickets, so Batty gives us an extra spinning option," added Graveney.

Batty's Worcestershire team mate Kabir Ali has also been included in the squad as an all-rounder.

Despite now being the second-best Test side in the world after a run of eight victories in the last nine matches, England have a dismal one-day record and won just once in their five matches in a triangular series involving New Zealand and West Indies last month.

"We spent a long time looking at our options ...because we didn't do ourselves justice earlier this season," said Graveney.

"The selectors discussed at length the way we want to play and we identified a need for more depth in our batting and an increase in mobility in our fielding."

England will play three one-day matches against India in early September before their first match in the Champions Trophy against Zimbabwe at Edgbaston on September 10.

The squad: Michael Vaughan (captain), Kabir Ali, James Anderson, Gareth Batty, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Stephen Harmison, Geraint Jones, Anthony McGrath, Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick.

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Source: REUTERS
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