Prior sacked, Strauss recalled

In a shock decision, Matt Prior has been left out of the England squads to tour New Zealand. Despite his outstanding performances with the bat on the ill-fated tour of Sri Lanka, the wicketkeeper has been dropped in favour of uncapped Tim Ambrose.

Ambrose, 25, has enjoyed some rich batting form for Warwickshire of late and is the most recent of England’s auditions for the role behind the stumps. “Tim Ambrose fully deserves an opportunity at this level following impressive performances for the England Performance Squad in India before Christmas and for Warwickshire last season,” said chairman of selectors, David Graveney.

Ambrose averages 34.87 in first-class cricket and scored a career-best 251 not out last season. In one-day cricket he has a solid average of 30.68.

Graveney also commented that Prior’s exclusion is due to his wicketkeeping performances, rather than his batting. “Matt Prior performed well with the bat in Sri Lanka and it has been a difficult decision to leave him out of this tour,” he said, “But the selectors feel that he needs to further improve his wicket-keeping in order to realise his full potential in international cricket.”

Returning to the Test team is opener Andrew Strauss, who was dropped last year for the first time in his 43-Test career. Strauss is set to play for Northern Knights in the New Zealand domestic competition and will join the touring party after.

“Andrew Strauss needed a break from international cricket in our view and he will now be keen to re-establish himself in the Test side,” said Graveney, “His experience will be of benefit to the squad as a whole and his inclusion will also provide us with alternative options if required at the top of the batting order.”

In the one-day international squad James Tredwell is the new face, while Phil Mustard retains his spot despite the inclusion of Ambrose. Tredwell, an offspinner, receives his first call to senior service, after notable performances for Kent and the Performance squad in India. He and Ambrose are the only uncapped players in the squad.

England Test squad Michael Vaughan (capt), Tim Ambrose (wk), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Phil Mustard, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann.

England ODI squad Paul Collingwood (capt), Tim Ambrose (wk), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Phil Mustard, Kevin Pietersen, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Chris Tremlett, Luke Wright.