Moeen Ali has earned his first call-up to the senior England squad for next month’s World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.
The Worcestershire all-rounder, a batsman who bowls tidy off-spin, has been named in the 15-man party as the selectors seek a long-term solution to the slow bowling conundrum brought about by the retirement of Graeme Swann in December.
Along with Moeen, Lancashire’s Stephen Parry, who has played only six first-class matches but has 56 T20 games under his belt, is also included. Parry, 28, is the surprise name in the party, although he was called up by the England Lions for a 50-over game against India ‘A’ in 2010.
Before the T20 tournament, England play three one-day internationals and three T20 games against West Indies. They leave for the Caribbean later this month and Harry Gurney, the 27-year-old Nottinghamshire left-arm pace bowler, has been included in the squad for that tour, but he is not in contention at this stage for the World Twenty20.
Gurney was brought to Australia with England before the Ashes tour, along with fellow left-arm quick Tymal Mills, to bowl at batsmen keen for experience of facing left-arm pace as they prepared for the challenge of Mitchell Johnson. Johnson went on to take 37 wickets in the Ashes and was named man of the series.
Despite the 3-0 whitewash by Australia in the recent series Down Under, the selectors have decided to stick with the majority of that squad, which will be captained by Stuart Broad and coached by Ashley Giles. Eoin Morgan is likely to be vice-captain.
Under normal circumstances, Alastair Cook would lead the side for the 50-over games, but he has been given a break from international cricket until the limited-overs matches against Sri Lanka in this country next May.
SQUAD: Stuart Broad (capt), Michael Lumb, Alex Hales, Luke Wright, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wkt), Moeen Ali, Stephen Parry, Tim Bresnan, Jade Dernbach, James Tredwell, Ben Stokes, Chris Jordan. Harry Gurney added for West Indies tour.
