England recall Ravi Bopara and Tim Bresnan for Champions Trophy

Bopara has not played a 50oversaside international since September and the stylish batsman and handy mediumpacer had not been selected in either of England oneday coach Ashley Giles39s two previous squads in the format since the former Test spinner took charge of the limited overs side It seemed Bopara was fighting for his international future but he edged out fellow allrounders Samit Patel Luke Wright and Rikki Clarke Bopara39s last four oneday international innings saw him manage just 22 runs in total at home to South Africa and he was omitted from the ODI squads for the recent tours of India and New Zealand Ravi Bopara and Tim Bresnan right have made a comeback into the England team PicAFP quotHe39s been given another opportunity because we know what he39s capable of doingquot England national selector Geoff Miller told Sky Sports quotHe39s got all assets to his game there39s the bowling aspect which has come on very very well battingwise we know what he39s capable of doing and he39s very good in the field as well He adds strength to the squadquot the exEngland offspinner added Bopara39s inclusion aside there were few surprises with offspinner Graeme Swann and seamer Tim Bresnan both recalled following elbow problems As expected rising Yorkshire batting star Joe Root was included with star strokemaker Kevin Pietersen already ruled out of the Champions Trophy because of a knee injury Jos Buttler was given the chance to cement his claim to be England39s oneday wicketkeeper with Test gloveman Matt Prior again omitted from a limited overs squad Jonny Bairstow will provide backup with the gloves with the Yorkshireman aiming to force his way in as a specialist batsman The key contest for England fans and though they won39t yet say so publicly players and officials this season is the Ashes Test series at home to Australia that follows the Champions Trophy Miller insisted England were not taking undue risks ahead of their defence of the urn by selecting Swann their leading spinner and Bresnan for the Champions Trophy quotWe take one series at a time This is a very very big series for us because we39ve never won a 50over tournament quotYes we39ve got the Ashes coming up but I39ve watched both Bresnan and Swann bowling we39ve talked to them the medical staff have given them a good pass and we39re very confident they can come through thisquot As for Pietersen39s Ashes availability Miller said there had been a quotslight improvementquot in the South Africaborn batsman39s knee injury but added England were more than capable of coping without 39KP39 quotHe39s worldclass and you want worldclass in your side but it39s not to be on this occasionquot said Miller quotWe39re quietly confident we can do well with or without Kevin Pietersenquot England have never won a major 50over tournament and the threetime losing World Cup finalists were beaten by the West Indies at The Oval in the climax of the last Champions Trophy staged in England in 2004 A side again set to be captained by Test skipper Alastair Cook play the first of three onedayers against New Zealand at Lord39s on May 31 before opening their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia at Edgbaston on June 8 England squad for New Zealand oneday series and the ICC Champions Trophy Alastair Cook capt James Anderson Jonny Bairstow Ian Bell Ravi Bopara Tim Bresnan Stuart Broad Jos Buttler wkt Steven Finn Eoin Morgan Joe Root Graeme Swann James Tredwell Jonathan Trott Warwickshire Chris Woakes Fixtures NatWest ODI Series v New Zealand May 31 1st ODI Lord39s June 02 2nd ODI Ageas Bowl Southampton June 03 3rd ODI Trent Bridge England39s ICC Champions Trophy group matches June 08 v Australia Edgbaston June 13 v Sri Lanka The Oval June 16 v New Zealand Cardiff u00a0