Batty released from England squad

Worcestershire offspinner, Gareth Batty has been dropped from the England 3rd Test squad, which has been slimmed to 12 ahead of Thursday's matchup against the West Indies. This means that England will not be going through with suggestions of playing a two-man spin attack at Old Trafford.

Instead, Ashley Giles will provide the lone specialist spin option as he continues his romp up the World Bowling Rankings. He will support the bowling combination of Harmison, Hoggard and either Anderson or Simon Jones, with Flintoff as the fifth bowler.

The full squad is as follows:

Michael Vaughan (C), Marcus Trescothick, Geraint Jones (WK), Andrew Strauss, Robert Key, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, James Anderson.

Posted by Liam