LONDON, England -- Inexperienced all-rounder Ravi Bopara was the surprise inclusion when England's 15-man World Cup squad was unveiled on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Essex player has only one one-day international appearance behind him from the recent tri-series in Australia -- when he scored seven not out and took one wicket -- but edged out batsman Mal Loye in the squad.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "We have included Ravi Bopara because we believe he is a multi-dimensional cricketer whose all-round talents will help give the squad a better balance."

Graveney unveiled the squad at The Oval in London, adding that he hoped captain Michael Vaughan would be fit to lead the team in the tournament in the West Indies after missing much of the recent tri-series in Australia which England won.

"This is a youthful squad with a number of highly promising players who made an excellent impression in Australia. The challenge facing the team now is to build on those performances Down Under and peak at the right time in the Caribbean," Graveney said.

"The selectors were delighted with the team's outstanding performance in winning the Commonwealth Bank Series (tri-series) and we have retained the bulk of the squad who were in Australia for the World Cup.

"Michael Vaughan, James Anderson and Jon Lewis are all still recovering from injuries at present and have been named in the squad subject to a further re-assessment prior to our departure for the Caribbean.

"They will continue to undergo intensive treatment over the next fortnight and the medical staff will be giving the selectors regular updates on their progress. Kevin Pietersen, however, is now fully recovered from his rib injury and will be keen to make an impact in his first World Cup."
No gamble

Graveney denied that the inclusion of Vaughan was a gamble after he was ruled out of the tri-series final with Australia with hamstring problems.

"A number of other countries have done the same thing because of the timescale of the squad announcement," he said.

"My wish is that when we get to St Vincent, Michael Vaughan will be fit to captain England."

Asked what England's chances were in a tournament where they have struggled to mount a serious challenge for 15 years, Graveney said: "Well, two weeks ago we were told England needn't bother turning up while now I'm hearing we've been made second favorites -- it probably sits somewhere between the two.

"We've shown we can beat the very best with our (tri-series) wins over Australia and New Zealand but we've also shown we can have performances like Adelaide (when England were bowled out for 110 and lost by nine wickets to Australia)."

England, who have reached three World Cup finals and lost them all including their last appearance in one in 1992, are scheduled to leave for the Caribbean on March 2 and play their first warm-up match against Bermuda in St Vincent on March 5.

Their first match in the tournament's group stage is against New Zealand in St Lucia on March 16. They also face Kenya and Canada in Group C.
Khan stars

India's left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan claimed his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals to help defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the third match of their series on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old ripped through the top order to restrict the visitors to 230 for eight after they had won the toss and elected to bat.

India skipper Rahul Dravid became the sixth batsman to score 10,000 one-day runs as he notched up his 77th fifty to guide his team past the target and level the series 1-1. The hosts made 233 for five in 46.3 overs.

Zaheer dismissed openers Sanath Jayasuriya (two), Upul Tharanga (one) and the in-form Kumar Sangakkara for a duck, before claiming the wickets of Farveez Maharoof (14) and Malinga Bandara (two) to finish with five for 42.

However, a defiant half century by left-hander Russel Arnold (66 not out) helped Sri Lanka pass the 200-mark after skipper Mahela Jayawardene (30) and Marvan Atapattu (42) had steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 76.

Dravid made 66 with four fours and a six and shared in an entertaining 133-run stand off 139 balls for the fifth wicket with the big-hitting Mahendra Dhoni, who cracked an undefeated 67 to help the home side recover from 94-4.

The skipper was run out with four runs remaining for victory when Dhoni's straight drive hit leg-spinner Malinga Bandara's hands and crashed onto the stumps.

The final match will be played in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. The opening contest in Kolkata was abandoned due to rain while the visitors won the second match at Rajkot by five runs.

Reuters

I`m a little surprised, nay, shocked, that no one has reported the loss of the first in the series of matches involving England that they lost to New Zealand....

Or maybe you`re all just feeling kind towards me.

Quote:Styris inspires Kiwis to England win

Scott Styris took two scalps before striking an unbeaten 87 to help New Zealand recover from a shaky start and beat England by six wickets in their World Cup Group C match on Friday.

The Black Caps reached their target in 41 overs after England had been undone by some rash shots and suffered a middle-order collapse on their way to 7-209.

If both sides progress to the Super Eight stage as expected, New Zealand will carry over the two points gained from this match.

Their chase began badly however when seamer James Anderson, playing despite a broken little finger on his bowling hand, tempted Lou Vincent to nick behind for a duck in the first over.

Andrew Flintoff then produced a stunning one-handed slip catch to remove Ross Taylor also for nought in the second over.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming followed for seven when he played an uncharacteristically wild shot and was caught in the deep by Ed Joyce off Anderson to leave his side in trouble on 3-19.

Styris and Craig McMillan, who recovered from a bruised toe to play, then repaired the damage before McMillan decided to go after left-arm spinner Monty Panesar's second ball and was caught by Jamie Dalrymple on the cover boundary for 27.

All-rounder Styris was joined by Jacob Oram (63 not out) and the pair guided their side home with a partnership of 138 as England became increasingly ragged in the field.

Heavy morning rain forced the start to be delayed by half an hour, with the wet conditions leading Fleming to put England into bat.

But the bowlers needed little help early on with England's top three getting themselves out with loose shots.

Opener Joyce wafted away from his body and edged James Franklin behind to Brendon McCullum for a duck in the second delivery of the first over after a no-ball.

Ian Bell then made five before making the same mistake against Oram.

Captain Michael Vaughan, who played a full part despite fitness concerns, hit 26 before dragging a Franklin ball on to his stumps.

Kevin Pietersen, who missed most of England's recent tri-series triumph in Australia because of a broken rib, then survived an lbw shout, dropped catch and close stumping to steady the innings with 60 before the mini-collapse left England reeling.

Paul Collingwood (31), Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff (0) fell inside seven balls for one run with New Zealand paceman Shane Bond taking two of the wickets to finish with 2-19 from 10. Styris grabbed 2-25 off seven.

However, an unbeaten eighth-wicket 71-run partnership between Paul Nixon (42) and Liam Plunkett (29) gave England at least something to bowl at and thrilled a half-full Beausejour Stadium, which was swelled by ranks of England's Barmy Army.

Reuters