England name squad for Stanford Twenty20, India series

LONDON, Sept 9: England pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom will have to prove his fitness before being given the chance to earn one million dollars (500,000 pounds) in the winner-takes-all Stanford Twenty20 clash in November.

The Nottinghamshire left-arm quick was added to the unchanged XI which wrapped up a 4-0 one-day series win at home to South Africa this month and the four other original squad members to form a 15-man party for the match against billionaire Allen Stanford’s Caribbean ‘superstars’ in Antigua on Nov 1 and the subsequent seven-match one-day series in India.

Players in the winning side of the match at Texan-born businessman Stanford’s own ground stand to win one million dollars (500,000 pounds) each — a staggering sum by cricket standards.

However, 30-year-old left-arm quick Sidebottom, the reigning England player of the year, has sustained back, hip and groin injuries this season and was replaced in the one-day squad by Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan.

“The selectors would like to congratulate the team on an outstanding performance in beating such a talented one-day side as South Africa so comprehensively,” said selection supremo Geoff Miller.

“It bodes extremely well for the tough challenges that lie ahead this winter and is reflected in our decision to retain the bulk of the squad from this summer’s NatWest Series for both The Stanford Super Series and the tour of India,” he added.

England are also due to play two Tests in India in December. The squad for that series is set to be announced on Sept 29.

England 15-man squad announced on Tuesday for the Stanford Super Series in Antigua and the One-day International series in India:

Kevin Pietersen (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Samit Patel, Matt Prior (wicket-keeper), Owais Shah, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, Luke Wright.

Fixtures:

Stanford Super Series (Twenty20)

All matches at Stanford Cricket Ground, Antigua

Oct 25: Stanford Superstars v Trinidad and Tobago

Oct 26: England v Middlesex

Oct 27: Trinidad and Tobago v Middlesex

Oct 28: England v Trinidad and Tobago

Oct 29: Stanford Superstars v Middlesex

Nov 1: Stanford Superstars v England

England ODIs in India:

Nov 6: England arrive, Mumbai

Nov 9: One-day warm-up match, Mumbai