News: Yardy to lead England A

Michael Yardy of Sussex will captain England A on the tour of Bangladesh next month.

There are also call-ups for Yorkshire's Adil Rashid, Nick Compton of Middlesex and Kent fast bowler Amjad Khan.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said the squad reflected the desire to put emphasis on developing youth while creating opportunity and experience for England's next level of players.

He said: “Owais Shah and Robert Key remain very much in the selectors' thoughts and their non-selection reflects the fact that they have already had extensive experience of touring with England A and the National Academy squad and provides valuable opportunities for other players.”

Peter Moores, National Academy director, added: “The squad is very exciting as it contains some new names such as Nick Compton and Adil Rashid and the recently qualified Amjad Khan.

“We are also giving an opportunity to Michael Carberry and Will Jefferson, two players who have been around for some time but have shown the attitude and ability to move on to higher honours.

“The squad will also offer another chance to Warwickshire's Alex Loudon and Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan, who have both been in the England set-up during the last 18 months.

“The rest of the squad is made up of the players who spent the first part of the winter in Perth.

"They will have a chance to show how they have developed, in the competitive phase of the programme.”

Squad

Michael Yardy (Sussex, capt)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Leicestershire)
Michael Carberry (Hampshire)
Nick Compton (Middlesex)
Steve Davies (Worcestershire)
Will Jefferson (Notts)
Amjad Khan (Kent)
Alex Loudon (Warwickshire)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Tom Smith (Lancashire)

Itinerary

14 Feb - England A arrive in Dhaka
17-19 Feb - Warm-up match - Mirpur
22-25 Feb v Bangladesh A - Mirpur
28 Feb-3 Mar v Bangladesh A - SCS, Bogra
6 Mar v Bangladesh A - SCS, Bogra
9 Mar v Bangladesh A, Mirpur
11 Mar v Bangladesh A, Mirpur
12 Mar - England A depart Dhaka

- ECB

A facinating XI... including four from the 2006 World-A-Team XI....

Nick Compton (Middlesex)
Michael Yardy (Sussex, capt)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Leicestershire)

Of those I'd single out Adil Rashid as the most interesting: I invoked "exceptional circumstances" to justify his inclusion in the 2006 WAT 'A' side... and I suggest that this call-up vindicates that decision.

Of the remainder of our 2006 WAT XI... Joyce (rightly), Mahmood (for reasons that have yet to be explained given his dire performances) and Dalrymple (inexplicably ommitted from the Sydney Test) have been involved in the current Ashes tour.... Foster has suddenly re-emerged as a frontrunner for the England wicket-keeper's spot for the summer Tests... Tremlett has been the outstanding bowler in Perth and only only old-hands Newman and Sales can complain that the powers that be have overlooked merit that we recognised.

On a personal note... I'm very pleased, personally, that Tom Smith (Lancashire) makes the 'A' tour: he would have been included in the WAT XI had I had my way... and I'll be interested to see how he matches up with Broad.

Of the rest.... Ravi Bopara (Essex) is not a surprise inclusion.. and the same goes for Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Michael Carberry (Hampshire) and Steve Davies (Worcestershire). Will Jefferson (Notts) was in the 2005 WAT 'A' side... and if I recall rightly, Alex Loudon (Warwickshire) was also in that side. Graham Onions (Durham) and Matt Prior (Sussex) were mentioned in the 2006 discussions and the only included name overlooked by us was Amjad Khan (Kent).

ps. Good to see Key and Shah overlooked as we overlooked them

I personally think that there should be A Tours and Academy tours, put some of the sky millions to good use.
A Tours should be full of players like J Foster, C Tremlett, S Mahmood, W Jefferson and L Plunkett. Players that have the talent but could do with some more experience and cricket. The tours should consist of about six four day first class games and a few one day games, against other A teams and tough state/regional sides. Looking at the tour of Bangladesh the players aren't going to learn much are they!

The Academy should be made up of players like R Bopara, A Rashid, S Davies and T Smith, players that have talent but need far more cricket and experience before they will be considered for England. These tours should also consist of around six first class games.

An interview of Adil Rashid

Sounds like a very mature lad !

I just hope they don't rush Rashid as he is recovering from a stress fracture in his back (unusual injury for a spinner) and we don't want any longterm problems with him.

Any new on who's replacing Broad? If he is not in the WC squad, it may not be such a bad idea to choose Mahmood.

__________________
third-umpire.com

The CB series will end on the 13th, so both Broad and Bopara have time to join England A-team in Dhaka incase they are not selected for the world cup squad.

Bangladesh has announced the Academy team to meet England-A for the three day warm up match.

BCB Academy Squad:

Junaid Siddique (LHB)
Nasiruddin Faruque (LHB)
Jahurul Islam (RHB)
Nadif Chowdhury (RHB, Cpt)
Marshal Ayub (RHB, LB)
Mahmudullah Riyad (RHB, RM)
Saghir Hossain (WK, RHB)
Mosharraf Hossain (SLA, LHB)
Suhrawardi Shuvo (SLA, LHB)
Dollar Mahmud (RMF, RHB)
Ziaur Rahman (RMF)
Mohammad Shahzada (RMF)

Has any further news been issued with regards to Rashid's injury?

Incase anyone still wondering what happened to this series, Bangladesh-A lost the two match FC series to England-A by 0-1 and the three match one day series by 1-2.

CricketArchive

How did they do?

Jefferson B
Carberry B
Compton A+
Prior A
Loudon B
Yardy C
Broad A+
Onions A
Smith B
Rashid C
Kirtley C
Bresnan B+
Davies B+
Gidman B

I think Compton and Broad would be the most likely to go on to Test Cricket. If they are not going to pick Read then Davies to be the keeper this year.