Thursday 11 February 2016 15:57, UK
Spinner Liam Dawson has been included in England's squad for the World Twenty20, despite coach Trevor Bayliss admitting he has never seen the Hampshire man play.
Dawson has been named ahead of all-rounder Chris Woakes, who is the surprise omission and the only difference to the original 15-man squad named to face South Africa in two Twenty20 encounters after the current one-day series.
Steven Finn was in that initial squad, but was replaced by Woakes after suffering a side strain in the Test series and will not be risked ahead of the tournament, which starts in India on March 8 and will be shown live on Sky Sports.
"He's coming along very well. He's got plenty of time," Bayliss told Sky Sports News HQ. "He was our best bowler in the first two Tests and that wasn't all that long ago, so I'm sure he'll hit the ground running."
Bayliss said Woakes was unlucky to miss out as England have opted to take three spinners to India.
"He's disappointed but that's the way it goes sometimes. If it was somewhere else in the world, he could have been one of the lucky ones. I'm sure he'll continue to work hard and he's certainly still a part of our plans going forward."
England Lions regular Dawson is yet to play for the full national side, but impressed Bayliss when he joined the squad in practice in the UAE.
"To be honest, I don't know a lot about him. I haven't seen him play a game," said Bayliss. "He came to a practice when we were out in the UAE with the Lions and I saw him in the nets.
"From a bowling point of view, he gets a bit on the ball, he looks like he's got something about him personality-wise and he can bat as well and is a good fielder apparently, so I'm looking forward to seeing him close up."
Bayliss said Kevin Pietersen was never considered for a recall, despite his impressive form in the recent Big Bash tournament in Australia.
"He wasn't even discussed in the selection meeting," added Bayliss. "Everyone is very happy with the young team that we have got.
"We've played very well in T20 cricket in the last six months or so and we just want to move forward with that team.
"We certainly feel we can win it. In T20, you get on a roll pretty quickly one way or the other and you can go out the back door pretty quickly, but you can also get a number of wins quickly.
"We have to start very well, but the way we've been playing, there's no reason that we can't - if we play some good cricket."
Kent wicket-keeper batsman Sam Billings admits he is delighted for Dawson, insisting he will add a new dimension to the squad in India.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, he said: "Liam has a very calm head and is obviously a three dimensional cricketer who can play as a batsman, a bowler and a he's a great fielder.
"He's a great guy as well and I am really happy for him. He will help us mount a series challenge out there along with the game changers in South Africa at the moment like Buttler, Stokes, Root... the list is endless."
England will begin their Group 1 challenge against West Indies in Mumbai on March 16, before facing South Africa, the winner of qualifying Group B, and then Sri Lanka.
England squad: E Morgan, M Ali, S Billings, J Buttler, L Dawson, S Finn, A Hales, C Jordan, A Rashid, J Root, J Roy, B Stokes, R Topley, J Vince, D Willey
