Press Release

England Include Bopara In World Cup Squad – 14/02/2007

By 14 February, 2007 No Comments

England Include Bopara In World Cup Squad – 14/02/2007 ECB Media Release The England selectors today named a 15-man squad under the leadership of Michael Vaughan for the forthcoming World Cup in the West Indies. The 21-year-old Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara who made his One-Day International debut against Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Series has been included in the squad together with Leicestershire wicket-keeper Paul Nixon, another ODI debutant during England’s recent tri-series win. Announcing the squad, Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: ” The selectors were delighted with the team’s outstanding performance in winning the Commonwealth Bank Series and we have retained the bulk of the squad who were in Australia for the World Cup. ” Michael Vaughan, James Anderson and Jon Lewis are all still recovering from injuries at present and have been named in the squad subject to a further re-assessment prior to our departure for the Caribbean. ” They will continue to undergo intensive treatment over the next fortnight and the medical staff will be giving the selectors regular updates on their progress. Kevin Pietersen, however, is now fully recovered from his rib injury and will be keen to make an impact in his first World Cup. ” This is a youthful squad with a number of highly promising players who made an excellent impression in Australia. The challenge facing the team now is to build on those performances ‘down under’ and peak at the right time in the Caribbean. ” With regard to the overall make-up of the squad, Mal Loye can consider himself unfortunate not to be included as he made an encouraging start to his international career. We have included Ravi Bopara because we believe he is a multi-dimensional cricketer whose all-round talents will help give the squad a better balance.” England are scheduled to leave for the Caribbean on March 2nd and play their first warm-up match against Bermuda in St Vincent on March 5th. Their first match in the tournament’s Group Stage is against New Zealand in St Lucia on March 16th. The World Cup Squad Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire) captain James Anderson (Lancashire) Ian Bell (Warwickshire) Ravi Bopara (Essex) Paul Collingwood (Durham) James Dalrymple (Middlesex) Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire) Ed Joyce (Middlesex) Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire) Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire) Paul Nixon (Leicestershire) Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire) Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire) Liam Plunkett (Durham) Andrew Strauss (Middlesex)