Samit Patel handed World Cup lifeline

Nottinghamshire's Samit Patel has been offered an opportunity to prove his worth ahead of the World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February and March, after being named in England's 30-man preliminary squad for the tournament.

The squad, which will be reduced to 15 names on January 19, also includes Stuart Broad, who is recovering from a torn abdominal muscle, as well as three members of England's Ashes squad who will not be featuring in next month's ODI series against Australia - Alastair Cook, Steven Finn and Matt Prior.

Commenting on the 30 players, England's national selector Geoff Miller said: "We have selected a squad of players with a strong track record in limited-overs cricket either for England or in the domestic game. Recent series have shown we have made progress in one-day cricket and we will be looking to continue this form during next year's World Cup and challenge for another global title."

Patel's inclusion in the list of probables is arguably the most eye-catching selection, because he has long been blackballed by the management for an apparent unwillingness to do the fitness work necessary to complement his undoubted talent. With his hard-hitting but technically correct lower-order batting and impressive left-arm spin that secured a career-best 5 for 41 against South Africa at The Oval in 2008, he would be an asset on the slow, low wickets of the subcontinent.

"Samit Patel has also been included in this preliminary squad and - along with every other player named - will be required to meet individual fitness criteria before the squad is finalised," said Miller. "There is still some time to pass before the final squad is selected so all 30 players have sufficient time to press for selection."

England has been drawn in a group alongside Bangladesh, India, Ireland, Netherlands, South Africa and West Indies. The team will play two warm-up games against Canada and Pakistan before beginning their World Cup campaign on February 22 against Netherlands in Nagpur, India.

Squad Andrew Strauss (Middlesex, capt), James Adams (Hampshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Steven Davies (Surrey), Jade Dernbach (Surrey), Steven Finn (Middlesex), James Hildreth (Somerset), Craig Kieswetter (Somerset), Michael Lumb (Hampshire), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Matt Prior (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Ajmal Shahzad (Yorkshire), Darren Stevens (Kent), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), James Tredwell (Kent), Chris Tremlett (Surrey), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Luke Wright (Sussex), Michael Yardy (Sussex)