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| March 15, 2007 | Thursday | Safar 25, 1428 |
Pen-sketches of England World Cup squad
BRIDGETOWN, March 14: Pen-pix of England’s World Cup squad: Michael Vaughan (RHB/captain). Age: 32. ODI appearances: 77. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Dambulla, March 23, 2001. England's inspirational captain will lead the team's batting at the World Cup provided he is fit. His calm, obdurate and effective captaincy is what his team needs if they are to do well in the tournament.
Career: 1773 runs (ave 27.70), HS 90*, 15 50s, 37 catches, 12 wkts (ave 46.83), BB 4-22, 4w 1.
James Anderson (RHB/RFM). Age: 24. ODI appearances: 57. Debut: v Australia, Melbourne, Dec 15, 2002. The strapping fast bowler is the only English bowler to take a hat-trick in One-day Internationals. Showed good form in the recent one-day series in Australia where England stunned the world champions.
Career: 89 runs (ave 7.41), HS 15, 4 catches, 86 wkts (ave 26.51), BB 4-25, 4w 6.
Ian Bell (RHB/RM). Age: 24. ODI appearances: 36. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Harare, Nov 28, 2004. The tenacious and technically solid batsman is expected to shore up the England top order.
Career: 1172 runs (ave 37.80), HS 88, 9 50s, 23 catches, 6 wkts (ave 14.66), BB 3-9.
Ravi Bopara (RHB/RM). Age: 21. ODI appearances: 1. Debut: v Australia, Sydney, Feb 2, 2007. A surprise inclusion in the World Cup squad in place of Mal Loye after just a solitary one-day appearance in Australia where he remained unbeaten on seven and took a wicket with his medium pace bowling.
Career: 7 runs, HS 7*, 1 wkt (ave 19.00), BB 1-19.
Paul Collingwood (RHB/RM). Age: 30. ODI appearances: 112. Debut: v Pakistan, Edgbaston, June 7, 2001. Finally proved his undisputed potential in Australia in both the Test and one-day series. His superb batting helped England win the one-day series to end an otherwise disastrous tour with a morale-boosting win.
Career: 2690 runs (ave 34.05), HS 120*, 4 100s, 13 50s, 27 catches, 58 wkts (ave 36.79), BB 6-31. 4w 3.
Jamie Dalrymple (RHB/OB). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 24. Debut: v Ireland, Belfast, June 13, 2006. The Kenyan-born is a genuine all-rounder, an off-spinner and capable middle-order batsman. The Middlesex player will be one of England's key players at the World Cup.
Career: 481 runs (ave 21.86), HS 67, 2 50s, 9 catches, 14 wkts (ave 42.64), BB 2-5.
Andrew Flintoff (RHB/RFM). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 115. Debut: v Pakistan, Sharjah, April 7, 1999. England's greatest all-rounder since Ian Botham, he will carry the responsibilities on his broad shoulders. England's success or failure at the World Cup will rest on how the big man performs.
Career: 2984 runs (ave 33.52), HS 123, 3 100s, 16 50s, 44 catches, 122 wkts (ave 26.41), BB 4-14, 4w 5.
Ed Joyce (LHB/RM). Age: 28. ODI appearances: 12. Debut: v Ireland, Belfast, June 13, 2006. The Irishman sparked England's comeback in Australia with a gutsy century and will be expected to give the side a bright start at the World Cup.
Career: 319 runs (ave 26.58), HS 107, 1 100, 1 50, 3 catches.
Jon Lewis (RHB/RFM). Age: 31. ODI appearances: 12. Debut: v Bangladesh, Oval, June 16, 2005. The Gloucestershire seamer is a consistent wicket-taker in county cricket which earned him an international debut in 2005. Bowled well in Australia to earn a World Cup call-up.
Career: 33 runs (ave 6.60), HS 9, 17 wkts (ave 25.70), BB 4-36, 4w 1.
Sajid Mahmood (RHB/RFM). Age: 25. ODI appearances: 19. Debut: v New Zealand, Bristol, July 4, 2004. The former supermarket employee has had an on-off career but the fast bowler from Lancashire is now regarded a regular fixture in the England team. Will find the bounce on the newly-laid wickets in the Caribbean to his liking.
Career: 83 runs (ave 9.22), HS 22*, 1 catch, 21 wkts (ave 41.38), BB 3-37.
Paul Nixon (LHB/WK). Age: 36. ODI appearances: 10. Debut: v Australia, Melbourne, Jan 12, 2007. The seasoned wicket-keeper finally made his one-day debut on the recent Australian tour and made such a good impression that he pipped both Geraint Jones and Chris Read for the World Cup.
Career: 104 runs (ave 11.55), HS 49, 14 dismissals (13 catches and 1 stumping).
Monty Panesar (LHB/SLA). Age: 24. ODI appearances: 9. Debut: v Australia, Melbourne, Jan 12, 2007. The Sikh spinner has replaced Ashley Giles as the first-choice slow bowler in both Test and one-day cricket after being ridiculed in the past for his slow movement in the field. Expect a bagful of wickets from him at the World Cup.
Career: 6 runs (ave 6.00), HS 6, 2 catches, 9 wkts (ave 37.88), BB 2-35.
Kevin Pietersen (RHB/OB). Age: 26. ODI appearances: 42. Debut: v Zimbabwe, Harare, Nov 28, 2004. The fit-again batsman will be the lynchpin of the English line-up with his explosive hitting. England may not have missed him in the one-day series in Australia but he will be needed at his best at the World Cup.
Career: 1582 runs (ave 56.50), HS 116, 3 100s, 11 50s, 14 catches, 1 wkt (ave 91.00), BB 1-4.
Liam Plunkett (RHB/RFM). Age: 21. ODI appearances: 22. Debut: v Pakistan, Lahore, Dec 10, 2005. England's bowling hero in the one-dayers in Australia after getting a late look-in. The seamer ensured England did not miss Steve Harmison in the series. He will have to perform as well at the World Cup.
Career: 258 runs (ave 23.45), HS 56, 1 50s, 2 catches, 28 wkts (ave 35.82), BB 3-24.
Andrew Strauss (LHB). Age: 29. ODI appearances: 74. Debut: v Sri Lanka, Dambulla, Nov 18, 2003. The solid left-hander may not have set the Australian cricket grounds afire, but he remains the man England can depend on for a good start.
Career: 2156 runs (ave 32.66), HS 152, 2 100s, 14 50s, 42 catches.—AFP
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