There were some important changes made to the England squad for the limited overs series against India with Kevin Pietersen getting a look-in for the ODIs and Ashley Giles taking over as England limited overs head coach.
Explosive batsman Kevin Pietersen returned to the ODI side but was rested from the Twenty20 Internationals as England announced their squads for the limited-over series against India starting next month. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced on Wednesday that former England international Ashley Giles will take over as England limited overs head coach as officials try to ease the burden on team director Andy Flower.
Pietersen, who returned to the Test side for the ongoing series after being sidelined due to the text message scandal during the home rubber against South Africa earlier this year, did not figure in the 13-strong England squad for the two T20 Internationals in Pune (Dec 20) and Mumbai (Dec 22). He was, however, named in the 15-member ODI squad for the five-match series which begins at Rajkot on January 11.
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Pietersen played his last ODI in February against Pakistan in Dubai and was not picked for the home ODI series against South Africa following the text message scandal.
Ashley Giles (right) and Kevin Pietersenu00a0xcercise during a training session at Jaipur's Swai Mansingh Stadium in 2006. Pic/AFP
Off-spinner Graeme Swann, who contributed substantially in England's 10-wicket defeat of India in the second Test, has been omitted from both the squads as the England and Wales Cricket Board went for rotational policy.
Stuart Broad will lead the Twenty20 side which has Surrey pace bowler Stuart Meaker as the only uncapped player.
Two members of the 13-man squad were not involved in England's recent ICC World T20 campaign -- James Tredwell and Stuart Meaker.
Steven Finn, who missed the first two matches of the ongoing Test series against India due to an injury, figured only in the ODI squad to be led by Alastair Cook. Fast bowler James Anderson will be in the squad for the warm-up fixtures and first three ODI matches only. He will be replaced by Stuart Broad for the two remaining ODIs, an ECB release said.
National selector Geoff Miller said the ECB will have to resort to the rotation of players to manage their workload, apparently in view of the back-to-back Ashes Series coming up. "We are constantly looking to manage the workload of players as effectively as possible and this winter is no different so there are number of players who are being rested for parts of the winter programme. This will enable them to take part in fitness and conditioning programmes in preparation for a busy 2013," he said.
"We have selected squads containing experienced international players alongside younger players who have impressed playing for England Lions and the England Performance Programme recently and who deserve an opportunity to establish themselves in the England side," said Miller.
"We know that playing limited-overs cricket in India can be challenging but the T20 and ODI series provide an excellent opportunity for these players to show that they have learnt valuable lessons from the last ODI series against India and improved as players in sub-continent conditions," he added.
Former spinner Giles, meanwhile, will now be the head coach of limited-overs cricket team, taking over from Flower.
However, the ECB stressed Flower, the former Zimbabwe batsman, will remain team director and "continue to be responsible for the preparation and playing strategies for the England men's cricket teams supported by Ashley Giles".
There have been concerns the workload being carried by Flower for the past five-and-a-half-years, which has seen England win home and away Ashes series, could lead to him suffering from 'burn-out'.
Flower will continue to tour with the England Test side during both home and away series but will no longer be responsible for the day to day leadership of the England ODI and T20 sides, with Giles now taking on that responsibility.
In their statement the ECB said the new set-up would "provide a more efficient and sustainable use of coaching resources".
Giles, a former England left-arm spinner who was an Ashes winner as a player in 2005, is already a member of the England selection panel and as a coach helped guide Warwickshire, the club he represented during his first-class career, to the 2012 County Championship title.
But as a result of his new role, Giles will now give up his position with the Midlands county.
Both Flower, 44, and Giles, 39, will remain England selectors in a panel currently chaired by former Test off-spinner Geoff Miller.
England T20 Squad: Stuart Broad (C), Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, James Tredwell, Luke Wright.
England ODI Squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, James Anderson/Stuart Broad.u00a0
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