Saturday, August 27, 2011

England decide to rest Pietersen from India one-day series


Kevin Pietersen will miss the five-match Natwest Series against India after England opted to rest the batsman.

As a first-choice player in all three formats, Pietersen has been taken out of the firing line as part of the England and Wales Cricket Board's ongoing policy of workload management.

Nevertheless, Pietersen is known as a player for the marquee occasions and a high-profile series against the world champions would have suited his appetite for the big stage.

Ben Stokes, who made his England debut in yesterday's win over Ireland, has been retained alongside a host of returning stars who were excused the trip to Dublin.

Meanwhile, uncapped pair Jos Buttler of Somerset and Alex Hales of Nottinghamshire have been called up to the Twenty20 squad.

England have rested a number of players under Andy Flower's leadership, with the likes of James Anderson, Paul Collingwood and - prior to his retirement from one-day cricket - Andrew Strauss, among those to have benefited from a break.

Pietersen will play in the Twenty20 match at Old Trafford on Wednesday before standing down for the ODI series, which starts in Durham on September 3.

England Squad

Alastair Cook (captain, Essex), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jade Dernbach (Surrey), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Craig Kieswetter (Somerset), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire) 


Chance to shine: Ben Stokes has been called into the squad for the One Day series.

Leader of the team: Alistair Cook returns to captain the side.

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