Pietersen back in fold as Kieswetter posts reminder

Pietersen, left out of the squad which beat Pakistan in September because of a loss of form, seemed a certainty to return – especially after his career-best 227 in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

He was duly named among a 17-man party to take on Australia in two Twenty20s and seven one-day internationals next month.

The squad also includes England Performance Programme graduate Chris Woakes alongside Ashes hopeful Chris Tremlett in a five-strong seam attack in the absence of the injured Stuart Broad.

Steve Davies retains his place as 50-over wicketkeeper, with Craig Kieswetter still under Twenty20 consideration only, and no return yet for Matt Prior, England's Test choice and someone who still wants to play in all international formats.

Andrew Strauss will captain the one-day team but is no longer involved in Twenty20s, leaving Paul Collingwood to lead the world champions.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "While our focus is currently on retaining the Ashes in Australia, we are excited by the prospect of taking on Australia in the limited-overs format, because they are among the best in the world in the shorter form of the game.

"We believe we've picked a well-balanced squad to cover both the two Twenty20 matches and the seven-match ODI series.

"This series will be the ideal lead-up to the ICC World Cup, which immediately follows the tour of Australia."

England are due to name a provisional 30-man World Cup squad on December 19, pared down to 15 a month later for a tournament which begins on the sub-continent on February 19.

Broad, who faces a tight schedule to recover from his abdominal injury in time, is sure to be in the initial World Cup squad at least.

In the shorter term, Broad's absence presents an opportunity for uncapped Warwickshire seamer Woakes.

Miller added: "With Stuart Broad ruled out of the series, we've needed to bolster our pace bowling stocks –- and Chris Woakes comes into the squad after knocking on the door for some time.

"Chris will be hungry for his international debut and vying for a place with a number of other quality pace bowlers."

England see their assignments against Australia as an ideal stepping stone to trying to win the World Cup for the first time.

"To pit yourself against the No 1 ranked ODI side in the world over a seven-match series is the perfect preparation for a World Cup," said Miller.

"We'll be looking to continue the recent run of results the ODI squad has enjoyed over the past 18 months."

Kieswetter issued the selectors a reminder of his talent by striking five sixes in a superb century as the England Performance Programme XI beat Western Australia A by seven wickets.

The Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman demonstrated his ability to score quickly and heavily in the tour encounter at Lark Hill, near Perth.

Australia A began day four on 175-8 and were all out for 199, with 19-year-old Hampshire spinner Danny Briggs taking the

final two wickets of the innings to amass three victims in the innings and seven in the match.

That left the England XI chasing 248 for victory and they lost just three wickets in reaching their target, with Kieswetter smashing 113 from 121 balls.

He and Yorkshire's Adam Lyth (38) put on 104 for the first wicket to give the tourists a strong platform, and Kieswetter and James Hildredth then came together for a stand of 99.

Kieswetter was caught by Jake Fawcett off Martin Paskal with the total on 203, and Paskal then accounted for captain Hildreth for 63.

Yorkshire's Jonathan Bairstow (24no) and Ben Stokes (six not out) carried them over the line, reaching 248-3.

England T20 and ODI squad: AJ Strauss (ODI cap, ODI squad only), PD Collingwood (T20 capt), JM Anderson, IR Bell, TT Bresnan, SM Davies, EJG Morgan, C Kieswetter (T20 squad only), KP Pietersen, A Shahzad, GP Swann, JC Tredwell, CT Tremlett, IJL Trott, CM Woakes, LJ Wright, MH Yardy.

Western Australia coach Mickey Arthur believes Michael Beer is the best left-arm spinner in the country and has the temperament and ability to fit straight into the Australia side.

Beer, who has played just five first-class matches, was a shock inclusion in Australia's squad for the third Ashes Test in Perth yesterday, but Arthur has full confidence in the 26-year-old.

"There's no doubt he can handle it. He has a fantastic temperament, and he will be right up for it. He is a very good left-arm spinner and I think he can have a long future," said Arthur.

He also called on the selectors to give their latest spin solution time to make his mark, saying the St Kilda product has the potential to develop into an exceptional player.

"I'd certainly like to see the selectors pick one spinner now and stick with him. He's a very good left-arm spinner and he's the guy they've picked, so they need to stick with him and he'll reward them," he said.

"I think he'll probably get an extended run now. They're clearly looking for a left-arm spinner and there's no better one in Australia than Michael Beer.

"He's got a way to go, he's young in the game, but in a year's time he'll be sensational. He'll be able to handle anything that international cricket throws at him.

Australia squad for third Ashes Test: R Ponting (capt), M Clarke, M Beer, B Haddin (wkt), R Harris, P Hughes, B Hilfenhaus, M Hussey, M Johnson, P Siddle, S Smith, S Watson.