CHESTER-LE-STREET, June 15: Andrew Strauss was released from the England One-day International squad here on Sunday to play for Middlesex in a Twenty20 match against Surrey at Lord’s on Monday.

However opening batsman Strauss could be recalled as cover for Alastair Cook if his fellow left-handed opener fails to recover from a shoulder injury ahead of Wednesday’s second One-day International at Edgbaston.

Strauss has scored just one half-century in his last 14 One-day Internationals. But he was called as temporary cover for Cook on Saturday.

Cook first felt his shoulder problem on the final day of the last Test at Trent Bridge and was unable to shrug it off in time to feature in Essex’s Twenty20 Cup opener against Surrey.

Cook was also overlooked for Friday’s Twenty20 International at Old Trafford, which England won by nine wickets, and was unable to train with the rest of the squad on Saturday prior to Sunday’s start of the five-match series here at the Riverside.

Strauss was left out of England’s team for the Riverside match, England sticking with Friday’s opening pair of Ian Bell and Luke Wright.

England have struggled for a reliable opening batsman in one-day cricket since the international retirement of Marcus Trescothick.

But Bell and Wright, England’s 10th different first-wicket pair in what is now 15 limited overs matches, put on 48 for the first wicket at Old Trafford.

Man-of-the-Match Bell went on to see England home with an unbeaten 60.—AFP