Team England Recall Worcester Trio

England have named their squad for the NatWest Challenge and ICC Champions Trophy in September, summoning Vikram Solanki and Kabir Ali back to the international frame following prolonged absences and offering teammate Gareth Batty the second spinner slot in a largely .

Completeing the Worcestershire trio is off-spinner Gareth Batty who has leapfrogged Ian Blackwell as the second spinner option. Following a strong county season and his improving batting, Batty's naming was a mere formality once selectors had decided on a second spinner behind the flourishing Ashley Giles.

Andrew Flintoff's return to fitness has allowed for the selectors to overlook the alternative specialist all-rounder options - Blackwell and Rikki Clarke - in favour of a batting all-rounder in Anthony McGrath and bowling all-rounder in Kabir.

Ali has been capped once in ODI cricket in a washed out match against Zimbabwe in 2003. He missed the start of 2004 follow pre-season surgery and has only recently settled into his consistent form pattern, a hallmark of his game.

Despite a poor domestic one-day record, Warwickshire's Ian Bell was surprisingly overlooked following a golden summer of form. His place instead was offered to Solanki - also enjoying a prolific season - on the basis of his strong fielding and ability to open the innings.

His recall to the squad should see the break-up of the Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan opening partnership that has not gelled in the shorter form as strongly as it did in the Tests. This is despite Solanki's poor record at international level, where he has passed 20 on just 5 occasions in his 21 matches - four of those opening the innings including his only hundred against South Africa.

Experianced hand Darren Gough continues to lead the bowling attack despite a string of uncharacteristic performances over recent time. Regular James Anderson retains his place, as does firebrand Steve Harmison.

Geraint Jones has been granted a second series behind the stumps as keeper despite a lukewarm beginning in the shorter form of the game. During the NatWest Series Jones shifted between numbers 3 and 7 in the batting order with only limited success.

Alongside Blackwell and Clarke, Robert Key, Michael Powell and Sajid Mahmood miss out from the previous English one-day squad.

England plays their next ODI on September 1.

The full squad is:

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

Posted by Andre