Strauss called up as cover

Middlesex man to replace Cook for series opener

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 15th June 2008

England practice: Andrew Strauss

Strauss: All smiles after call up

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Andrew Strauss has been handed a shock recall into England's one-day squad as temporary cover for Alastair Cook who is suffering with a shoulder injury.

The Middlesex left-hander has not featured in England's limited overs side since last year's World Cup having scored just one half-century in his last 14 one-day internationals.

However, the England selectors have given Strauss an unexpected reprieve by bringing him into England's squad for the NatWest series opener against the Black Caps at Chester-le Street.

Fellow Test Match opener Cook, is experiencing growing discomfort in his right shoulder after first feeling the injury on the final day of the last Test at Trent Bridge.

The 23-year-old failed to shrug off the injury in time to play in Essex's Twenty20 Cup opener against Surrey at The Oval, and was also overlooked for Friday's 20-over success over New Zealand at Old Trafford.

Opening options

With Cook unable to train with the rest of the England squad prior to Sunday's first of five ODI's, Strauss has been given a temporary call up which may be extended to the second match at Edgbaston if the Essex man fails to recover.

Luke Wright, back in form Ian Bell and Strauss will fight it out for the two opening places with Kevin Pietersen expected to remain at number three after his unbeaten 42 at Old Trafford.

Elsewhere, Ryan Sidebottom should join fellow pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad in attack with Graeme Swann or Dimitri Mascarenhas likely to miss out from the side which performed so well in Manchester.

New Zealand travel to Chester-le-Street attempting to bounce back and prevent their tour to England ending in dismal fashion.

Desperately disappointed after they threw away a 179-run first-innings lead in the second Test to lose the series 2-0, the tourists had hoped to bounce back strongly in Friday's Twenty20 international, only to slump to a nine-wicket mauling.

Kiwi response

The Black Caps are ranked as the third best 50-over side in the world, and in an attempt to reverse their recent woes the tourists have decided to give the gloves to Gareth Hopkins and allow Brendon McCullum to concentrate on his devastating hitting at the top of the order.

Hopkins is expected to replace out-of-touch Peter Fulton in the side, while 19-year-old seamer Tim Southee has been included having recovered from the ankle injury which has sidelined him for the last week.

New Zealand's final dilemma is whether to recall off-spinner Jeetan Patel or continue with a three-man attack including Michael Mason, who was the pick of a disappointing New Zealand attack at Old Trafford.

Captain Daniel Vettori has urged his side to find extra reserves of determination if they are not to disappear without trace, particularly without injured all-rounder Jacob Oram.

"They've just have to find something from within themselves," stressed Vettori.

"It's not a matter of me or (coach) John Bracewell saying a number of things. Some guys have just got to step up, and if they don't do it, we'll get results like we did at Old Trafford."

England (from): PD Collingwood (Durham, capt), LJ Wright (Sussex), IR Bell (Warwickshire), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), OA Shah (Middlesex), TR Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), AD Mascarenhas (Hampshire), GP Swann (Northamptonshire), SC Broad (Nottinghamshire), RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), JM Anderson (Lancashire), RS Bopara (Essex), CT Tremlett (Hampshire), AN Cook (Essex), AJ Strauss (Middlesex).

New Zealand (from): DL Vettori (capt), BB McCullum, JM How, JAH Marshall, RPL Taylor, SB Styris, DR Flynn, G Hopkins (wkt), KD Mills, TG Southee, JS Patel, MJ Mason.

England 8/15, New Zealand 11/8