Sickness threatens Shahzad’s England chances

Captain Andrew Strauss and key spinner Graeme Swann have both recovered from their own bout of illness and are expected to face the West Indies today.

But Shahzad is the sixth England player to suffer a stomach upset at some stage on the month-long trip to the sub-continent.

Only Stuart Broad, who subsequently had to return home because of a side strain, has yet missed a match and Strauss appears confident he and Swann should at least be able to take on the West Indies.

“I’m feeling very well now,” Strauss said. “I was laid low the night before last (Monday) and (Tuesday) morning.

“Graeme Swann is recovering well. I don’t know if he is quite as buoyant as I am, but we’re still very confident he’ll be fine (for today).”

Shahzad was not expected to practise yesterday, and Strauss added: “We’re not sure at this stage whether that is going to affect his chances of being selected.”

Shahzad took three wickets in England’s shock defeat to Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday, a result which means they must beat the West Indies to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Doubts over the Yorkshire seamer’s fitness may reopen the door to pace spearhead James Anderson, even though team management are thought to feel the Ashes hero is due a rest after such an arduous winter, with Chris Tremlett in line to feature, if needed.

Despite England’s inconsistent form with a dramatic tie against India and victory over South Africa tempered by defeats to Ireland and Bangladesh, Strauss remains optimistic.

“It is a one-off and, we hope, the start of a series of one-offs,” he said.

“I think the juices are flowing and there are a few butterflies in the stomach – which is a great sign for us. We have done well in big matches over the last couple of years.

“The equation is very simple, and this isn’t a time to go into our shells – we have to got out there and take the West Indies on.

“I’m genuinely excited about it. We have nothing to fear – and I think we can go out there and play some good cricket (today) and, we hope, book our passage into the next phase of the tournament.”

As for Anderson, Strauss unsurprisingly declined to confirm or deny the pace spearhead will be dropped.

“Jimmy has had a tough time in some of the games in the World Cup so far, but we all know what a qualify performer he is,” he said.

“He has done it for us over and over again during the course of the winter and previously, so his name is very much in the mix for selection.

“All the bowlers will have question marks as to what is the right attack and right balance to the attack.

“That happens every time we pick a side.”

England can be expected to play two specialist spinners at a venue where both Swann and the seamers found significant help in that much-needed win over South Africa.

“You must think about the best way of getting those left-handers out,” added Strauss.

“They have four in their top five, and then lower down the order it is mainly right-handers.

“We have some bowlers who are better at left-handers – and we need them and also guys who can trouble the right-handers later on.

“I think we have a lot of options both with spin and seam for this game and we are going to pick a balanced bowling line-up that allows us to exploit whatever conditions the wicket throws at us.

“It obviously turned here in the last game, so there is definitely a case for two spinners.”

The balance of the bowling attack is not the only conundrum facing England, who have three contenders to partner Strauss at the top of the batting order.

Their first solution to filling the gap created by Kevin Pietersen’s injury was Matt Prior.

But he was unconvincing against Bangladesh, meaning Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara must also be in the equation.

“We said before the game we may not do it in every game, so we have to weigh up the conditions and weigh up the West Indies’ attack and decide on the best way of countering them in those first 15 overs or so,” said Strauss.

England expect Pietersen to be fit for the start of the Test series against Sri Lanka in May after confirming Tuesday’s hernia operation was a success.

The batsman was forced to return home early from the World Cup because of the problem and will now recuperate before beginning a period of rehabilitation with his county side Surrey.