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'England can win World T20 but I would have picked Stuart Broad'

Uncapped Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson included in squad...

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Nasser Hussain discusses England's 15-man squad for the World T20

Nasser Hussain believes the England squad selected for the World T20 in India is capable of winning the tournament, if their inexperienced bowling attack can fire.

Hussain was not surprised by the inclusion of uncapped Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson despite head coach Trevor Bayliss admitting he'd not seen him play, but thought Stuart Broad should have been selected.

"It doesn't matter that Bayliss hasn't seen Dawson," said Hussain. "He hasn't been involved in English cricket for that long, and has been working with England on the road in South Africa for a couple of months now.

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Head coach Trevor Bayliss speaks about Liam Dawson's selection in England's squad

"You have to trust the selectors and the advice of people who have seen Dawson - like Andy Flower, he is no novice when it comes to international cricket - on the recent Lions trip to play Pakistan in the UAE.

"And I spoke to Graham Thorpe who has seen quite a lot of him, and has been impressed, so it's not quite as left-field a selection as you might think.

"I'm a little bit surprised, given the inexperience in the bowling department, that there wasn't more talk and more of a push for Broad though, who is one of England's most experienced T20 cricketers - a former captain - to play on those flat pitches in India.

Image: Stuart Broad last played white-ball cricket for England at the 2015 World Cup

"But it is definitely a side capable of winning the World T20. With the bat, they have some fabulous players, and if they can just work out conditions with the ball, they have a chance.

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"That's the only area of concern. Their first game is against the West Indies - with their gun batting line-up - in Mumbai, and then if they progress through qualifying, they will come up against strong sides like India on flat pitches, so it will be a real test of their bowling unit."

The inexperienced bowling attack of Reece Topley, David Willey and Chris Jordan - all included - struggled as England suffered a seven-wicket defeat in the third ODI of their series against South Africa, having set their hosts 319 to win.

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Watch a pick of the action from Tuesday's third ODI between South Africa and England

But Hussain says the return of Steven Finn from injury will help the side, and he is backing the fast bowler to prove his fitness tournament starts on March 8.

"Finn has been absolutely brilliant for England of late," said Hussain. "He is a guy that all of a sudden can click, a proven wicket-taker.

"In 20-over cricket, to stem the run-flow, you need to take wickets and Finn's strike-rate in any form - red ball or white ball - shows he has always taken wickets, so he is going to be a valuable asset.

Steve Finn dismisses Faf du Plessis
Image: Steven Finn was one of England's best performers in the Test series against South Africa

"They've still got a month till the tournament for him to get fit, and already he has very nearly started bowling again.

"We saw when he came out for the Test series in South Africa after everyone said he was undercooked and wouldn't be ready for the first Test, how well and how quickly he progressed."

A couple of other notable omissions from the England squad were Chris Woakes - currently part of the squad in South Africa - and Kevin Pietersen.

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Nick Knight gave his thoughts on England's 15-man squad for the World T20 in India.

"Woakes is unlucky," added Hussain. "But once you go for the third spin option, which you need in India, then you have to do without one of those medium-fast all-rounders.

"It was probably between Woakes and Jordan, and that brilliant super-over Jordan bowled in the win over Pakistan in the UAE probably just pushed him ahead of Woakes.

"I don't think they would have even mentioned Pietersen. It's a shame because he is a fabulous player, you look at the way he has played all around the world in the Big Bash, Ram Slam, IPL.

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Watch Kevin Pietersen hit a massive 74 off 39 balls for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash final against Sydney Thunder

"Wherever he plays, he smashes it around, but this group of players are very close, a lot of them have played a lot of Lions cricket together, and England want to keep that group of guys together.

"They want to constantly be looking forward and not looking back. That might even be why they have decided not to include Broad too."

Watch the ICC World Twenty20 live on Sky Sports, starting on March 8.

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