Rarely will matches between England and Australia, international cricket's two oldest rivals, have as little riding on them as the forthcoming series of one-dayers. However, both sides are regarding them as valuable chances to tune up ahead of greater tests to come, although not necessarily this winter's Ashes series. Geoff Miller, England's national selector, who announced the squad for the five-match series yesterday, sees it as a building block for next year's World Cup.
England have included Michael Yardy, the left-arm spinner, who ended a long spell in the international wilderness with a recall to the side which went on to win the World Twenty20 last month. They want to explore their slow-bowling options ahead of next year's 50-over showpiece on the subcontinent, and are looking to pair Yardy with Graeme Swann, their No 1 spinner. "Michael Yardy's inclusion is a reward for performing consistently to a high level in the World T20 in the Caribbean," Miller told reporters.
Yardy is not the only veteran of the World T20 win to have won the faith of the selectors. Craig Kieswetter, the wicketkeeper-batsman, has been preferred to Matt Prior, and will make his home ODI debut when the series starts on June 22. Tim Bresnan, the all-rounder, has also earned a swift return to the international fold. He missed England's most recent Test, against Bangladesh, because of a stress fracture of his foot, but has been deemed fit to be included. Mitchell Johnson, Australia's left-arm fast bowler, will sit out the ODIs, but is expected to return in time to face Pakistan in the Test series following his elbow injury. @Email:pradley@thenational.ae
