Bangladesh series offers welcome World Cup practice

Andy Flower has no intention of sending out an experimental England side in the forthcoming one-day series against Bangladesh.

Flower has a number of international rookies in his ranks on this tour, including explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter, Yorkshire all-rounder Ajmal Shahzad and Kent spinner James Tredwell.

All three have played in both of England's warm-up matches against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI this week, and each has staked a claim for further inspection.

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Kieswetter announced himself with a muscular 143 on Tuesday – his first knock in senior England colours – while both Shahzad (1-26) and Tredwell

(2-17) did well in yesterday's eight-wicket win in Fatullah.

Alastair Cook, restored to the side as captain after a spell in the limited-overs wilderness, has also impressed with back-to-back half-centuries, both at better than a run a ball.

That means when Sunday's first ODI starts Flower could send out a team much-changed from the one which triumphed in the last series against South Africa.

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But if that is the case, the Zimbabwean-born coach insists it is not out of disrespect for the lowly-ranked Tigers.

Indeed, with the World Cup in this part of the world next year, Flower sees the series as a vital chance to give his best side experience of the conditions.

"I don't think this is a tour for just giving players a go," he said.

"It's a competitive tour between two international sides. We respect Bangladesh and that is how we'll be playing it.

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"With the World Cup being held on the sub-continent in 2011 it is important our guys get experience on these kind of decks.

"There is a certain type of game that you play here in the one-day format so for everyone here it is an important workout before the World Cup.

"There are selection issues, yes, but we've got our ideas about what we want to do but I can't tell you now exactly what our position is.

"You'll see on Sunday."

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