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Keeper Ambrose set for England one-day bow

30/05/2008

England wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose is in line to make his international one-day debut against New Zealand after being named in the latest 14-man squad.

Warwickshire gloveman Ambrose, who has impressed in the Test side of late, has been given the nod over Sussex's Matt Prior and Durham's Phil Mustard for the five-match series against the Black Caps, which begins next month.

Mustard played in the return ODI series in New Zealand over the winter, which England lost 3-1.

But national selector Geoff Miller said Ambrose's selection was a result of the "desire to use the same wicketkeeper in both the long and short forms of the game", as well as his mature performances in the Test arena.

Of the 16-man squad that played in the last ODI series, Kent bowler James Tredwell is also dropped.

The rest of the squad remains intact, with Paul Collingwood retained as captain and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff still lacking fitness.

"In choosing these players, we were keen to show consistency with the nucleus of the squad from the winter and give further opportunities to individuals who we feel are likely to be an important part of our plans as we build towards the ICC World Twenty20 event in England next summer and the next ICC Cricket World Cup," Miller explained.

"Phil Mustard will, of course, be disappointed not to have been selected on this occasion but he remains a player of terrific potential and we will continue to monitor his performances closely along with a number of other wicketkeepers in domestic cricket."

Miller said Mustard's place in opening the batting in the one-day games would now be up for grabs, with a number of players vying for the opportunity.

"We are aware of the need to identify a player who can take over the opener's role from Phil and play in a positive manner at the start of the innings," he continued.

"We do have a number of options available within the squad and we will make a final decision as to who will fulfill this role once we have had further discussions with the captain and coach prior to the start of the series."

Miller also lamented Flintoff's continued struggles with injury, which this time is a side strain rather than a recurrence of his ongoing ankle problem.

And the selector said the panel would "wait until he is 100 per cent fit before considering him for selection".

"We will be guided by the England medical team as to when the best time would be for him to return to international cricket," he added.

"His rehabilitation is progressing well at present and we are optimistic that he will be available for selection later in the summer."

Ahead of the ODI series, England and New Zealand will also play a Twenty20 international at Old Trafford.

The third and final Test of the series between the two nations begins next Thursday, June 5th.

Full 14-man England squad for one-day internationals against New Zealand:

Paul Collingwood (Durham, captain)
Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Chris Tremlett (Hampshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)