Cricket News

Come on then the what's the million dollar question?

Who got in the England squad for the Twenty20 pot of gold?

Correct! If only it was that easy... Personnel then please!

In the words of Thom Yorke, there were no surprises with Ryan Sidebottom returning in place of Tim Bresnan, although Alastiar Cook's place in the 15 surely just means he gets a free holiday.

I can't remember the last time he cleared the ropes?

He never has!

Weren't the central contracts dished out?

Michael Vaughan's diligent service to English cricket as well as an impressive record against the Aussies earns him the nod alongside Stuart Broad ahead of Matthew Hoggard.

What's your verdict?

Naming the same side for the Stanford Series as well as the one-day series in India bodes and reflects well on Kevin Pietersen's immediate impact upon the side as captain.

Wow, that doesn't happen very often - so what about Steve Harmison?

His timely reinvention as a one-day cricketer looks set to bolster his bank as well as his Ashes chances.

These new Increment contracts. What are they like, some U21 club?

Not quite. It's just for those who are regulars in the squad but haven't yet cemented their spots such as Matt Prior and Tim Ambrose as England's wicket-keeping dilemma rolls on.

Squad for Stanford and India ODIs: Kevin Pietersen (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Samit Patel, Matt Prior (wk), Owais Shah, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, Luke Wright

Central contracts: James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan.

Increment contracts: Tim Ambrose, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.