Andy Flower, the England team director, is looking for more from his side despite their World Twenty20 success, pledging: "There is still a lot of room for improvement." England defeated Australia by seven wickets on Sunday in Barbados to secure their first world title of any description in the game, and while Flower insisted the squad still must improve, he believes their triumph in the Caribbean will stand his side in good stead.
"There is still a lot of room for improvement for us in all sectors of the game and in all three forms of the game," Flower told Sky Sports. "I think one of the greatest things that will come from this win is the self-belief that it will create in our dressing room. "I don't think that could be a veneer thing, self-belief. It's borne of hard work and the guys have put in the hard work, both the support staff and the players and now it's starting to bear fruit."
England are next in action at the end of the month as they begin a two-Test series with Bangladesh on May 27 at Lord's before aiming to retain the Ashes in Australia at the end of the year. Meanwhile, Bangladesh have called up uncapped Shamsur Rahman to join the squad in England as a stand-by for Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan, the captain. The right-handed batsman intended to fly out on Sunday night but his London-bound flight was cancelled because of volcanic ash.
Tamim has not recovered from his hand injury to play in the warm-up matches, despite being given the green light to play in the Test series by a doctor in London. The team management asked the selectors for a precautionary stand-by after Shakib also contracted chickenpox. Rafiqul Alam, chairman of the selection committee, said: "In view of the injury to Tamim Iqbal and the sickness of captain Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh team management requested for a batsman as a back-up and the selection committee felt Shamsur would be the right choice as he is comfortable batting anywhere in the top five and is in form.
"He will also get ample opportunity to get acclimatised to the English conditions before the Test series starts." * Compiled by Graham Caygill, with agencies
