Yardy to lead England A

Sussex all-rounder Michael Yardy has been named as captain of an experimental England A squad ahead of a six-match tour of Bangladesh.

Yardy, 25, has played five One-Day Internationals for England, but failed to make the squad for the Commonwealth Bank series in Australia following a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy.

Yardy is joined in the squad by another Sussex batsman with International experience, Matthew Prior. Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Alex Loudon all bring ODI caps on tour, and seamer Graham Onions trained with the England squad during the summer of 2006.

Worcestershire’s highly-rated 20-year-old Steven Davies will take the gloves, whilst Tom Smith and leg-spinner Adil Rashid both graduate from the England Under 19 side.

The batting lineup includes several surprise names alongside Ravi Bopara, with both Owais Shah and Robert Key overlooked. Michael Carberry, already at his third county without ever figuring highly in the domestic averages, is joined by a Will Jefferson -deemed surplus to Essex requirements in the summer – whilst Nick Compton has struggled to emerge from his famous grandfather’s shadow.

None of these picks, however, qualify as the most surprising callup. That honour goes to the selection of Danish-born quick bowler Amjad Khan, who received British citizenship in the summer.

Full Squad
*Michael Yardy (Sussex)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Leicestershire)
Michael Carberry (Hampshire)
Nick Compton (Middlesex)
+Steven Davies (Worcestershire)
Will Jefferson (Nottinghamshire)
Amjad Khan (Kent)
Alex Loudon (Warwickshire)
Graham Onions (Durham)
+Matthew Prior (Sussex)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Tom Smith (Lancashire)