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Gough gets one-day recall
May 29, 2003 19:28 IST
Strike bowler Darren Gough was given a shock recall on Thursday as England unveiled a new-look one-day squad.
Chairman of selectors David Graveney said England are looking to the future and the 2007 World Cup in including six uncapped players for three matches against Pakistan in June followed by a triangular tournament against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"Youth needs its chance," Graveney told a news conference at Lord's. "This is a very exciting but very inexperienced squad.
"Apart from Darren Gough, we wanted to get a group of young players to see if they can play at the highest level."
"It's a big step-up. Some will make it, some will not. That doesn't mean we won't fall back on inexperienced players."
"Gough is a proven match-winner who was badly missed during the World Cup. He will have a dual role, on the pitch and passing on his experience in the nets."
The 32-year-old Gough, a favourite with new one-day captain Michael Vaughan, has not been an England regular for around 18 months following a string of knee operations.
The six uncapped one-day international players were batsmen James Troughton, Robert Key and Anthony McGrath, fast bowlers Kabir Ali and Richard Johnson and all rounder Rikki Clarke.
England's hand, however, was forced by retirements and injuries.
Former captain Nasser Hussain, Nick Knight and Andrew Caddick quit one-dayers after the World Cup while 40-year-old wicketkeeper Alec Stewart also ruled a line under his career although he has clung on to his Test spot.
Only five of the squad played in England's last World Cup game against Australia, with Ashley Giles hanging on to the specialist spinner's role.
Graveney said Paul Collingwood, who emerged during the one-dayers in Australia and the World Cup, would have been in the group if he did not have a shoulder injury.
Experienced left-handed batsman Graham Thorpe, hoping to get back into the squad after missing the Ashes and the World Cup with domestic problems, made a century for Surrey on Wednesday.
But Graveney said: "It's a specific policy, we are targeting players for 2007 and that policy starts from here."
"We want to win...but if you bring in younger players you have to have a bit of patience."
Wicketkeeper Chris Read was included in the squad despite having a broken thumb. If he does not recover, he will be replaced by James Foster.
Squad: Michael Vaughan (captain), Kabir Ali, James Anderson, Rikki Clarke, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison, Richard Johnson, Robert Key, Anthony McGrath, Chris Read, Vikram Solanki, Marcus Trescothick, James Troughton.
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