Bresnan in ODI squad but Shahzad omitted

ENGLAND sprang two surprises this morning by naming fit-again all-rounder Tim Bresnan and batsman Ian Bell in their NatWest Series squad - but there is no place for Yorkshire's Ajmal Shahzad.

ICC World Twenty20 find Bresnan returns, having missed last week's second npower Test against Bangladesh with a stress reaction in his left foot.

The seamer was diagnosed with the injury after a lacklustre performance in the first Test at Lord's. But it was subsequently reported that the problem was not as serious as first feared, and Bresnan has clearly made a quick recovery.

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His presence in a 13-man squad to face Scotland and Australia and captained by Andrew Strauss means his fellow Yorkshireman Ajmal Shahzad misses out, after an encouraging Test debut at Old Trafford.

Bell, who last played an ODI in 2008, is back in the reckoning. He and Strauss are the only two players to be included despite their absence from England's Twenty20-winning Caribbean squad in April and May. Among the other notable names in the ODI squad is Sussex all-rounder Michael Yardy, as the second spinner - while as expected, Craig Kieswetter takes the sole wicketkeeper-batsman position at the expense of Matt Prior.

All is not lost for the likes of Prior, though - because as likely members of an England Lions squad to face India A and West Indies A, set to be named next week, they could still push for promotion should the need arise.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "We have named a slightly smaller squad for this summer's NatWest Series than in previous years, because our own programme closely mirrors the England Lions' schedule for their triangular series.

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"We will draw on additional players from the Lions squad if required and will also consider using the Lions programme to give non-playing members of the one-day squad match practice where appropriate.

"At this stage, it is our intention to announce the Lions squad shortly before our first NatWest Series fixture against Australia."

England, trounced 6-1 by Australia in the NatWest Series which swiftly followed last summer's Ashes, have since improved - beating South Africa away under Strauss and then also winning in Bangladesh under Alastair Cook.

Miller added: "We are very pleased with the progress our one-day squad has made under the leadership of Andrew Strauss and (coach) Andy Flower over the past 18 months, and the challenge facing the squad now is to maintain the form they showed over the winter against the world's number one side in 50-over cricket."

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South Africa-born Kieswetter's inclusion was widely anticipated, thanks to his success so far as an attacking opening batsman in ODIs and the World Twenty20 - having become available to England only at the start of this year.

"Craig Kieswetter made a century in only his third one-day international on the tour of Bangladesh and continued to impress during the World T20 tournament in the Caribbean," said Miller.

"He has been earmarked for a role at the top of the order, and I am sure he will be relishing the opportunity to test himself against high-quality opposition.

"We are also pleased to welcome back Ian Bell to the one-day squad. He has performed well for Warwickshire this season in limited-overs cricket and worked hard to add a more positive, attacking approach to his game in the 50-over format.

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"Michael Yardy's inclusion is a reward for performing consistently to a high level in the World T20 in the Caribbean and also reflects our longer-term planning for a World Cup in the Indian sub-continent next year, in which spin bowling will be a major feature."

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