Ed Smith named in England A party
The England selectors have named a 15-man squad for England A's forthcoming tour of Malaysia and India
Wisden Cricinfo staff
13-Jan-2004
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Ed Smith: another opportunity © Getty Images |
The England selectors have named a 15-man squad for England A's forthcoming tour of Malaysia and India.
The party includes all 14 of the players who were originally selected back in September for the ECB National Academy's winter programme. In addition the Kent batsman, Ed Smith, has been drafted in, after making a favourable impression in the Test series against South Africa last summer. He had been touted as a possible captain, but in the end that honour went to Gloucestershire's Alex Gidman.
David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, described the tour as a "fantastic opportunity" for the players concerned, and thanked the Indian cricket board for allowing the team to compete in the Duleep Trophy, India's main domestic competition.
According to Graveney, Smith was included to improve the balance of the squad. "Having discussed the composition of the squad with Rod Marsh, it was felt that the squad would benefit from the inclusion of an extra batsman," he said. "Smith was unlucky to miss out on selection for the Test squad this winter and a tour of India will give him the ideal opportunity to further complete his development as a player. "
As well as the Duleep Trophy matches, the schedule includes three one-day fixtures against India A. The squad leaves for Malaysia on January 26.
Full squad
Kadeer Ali (Worcestershire), Simon Francis (Somerset), Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire, capt), Simon Jones (Glamorgan), Shaftab Khalid (Worcestershire), Michael Lumb (Yorkshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Graham Napier (Essex), Scott Newman (Surrey), Kevin Pietersen (Nottinghamshire), Matthew Prior (Sussex), Bilal Shafayat (Nottinghamshire), Ed Smith (Kent), James Tredwell (Kent), Graham Wagg (Warwickshire).
Kadeer Ali (Worcestershire), Simon Francis (Somerset), Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire, capt), Simon Jones (Glamorgan), Shaftab Khalid (Worcestershire), Michael Lumb (Yorkshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Graham Napier (Essex), Scott Newman (Surrey), Kevin Pietersen (Nottinghamshire), Matthew Prior (Sussex), Bilal Shafayat (Nottinghamshire), Ed Smith (Kent), James Tredwell (Kent), Graham Wagg (Warwickshire).
Rod Marsh (coach), Nigel Laughton (manager), Stuart Osbourne (physio)
Itinerary
Mon 26 Jan Depart for Malaysia
Mon 3 Feb Arrive Bangalore
Fri 6 Feb 1-day warm-up Bangalore
Mon 9 Feb 1st 1-day v India A Bangalore
Tue 10 Feb 2nd 1-day v India A Bangalore
Thu 12 Feb 3rd 1-day v India A Chennai
Sat 14 - 17 Feb 4-day warm-up Chennai/Visag
Sat 21 - 24 Feb Duleep Trophy Jalandhar
Fri 27 - 1 March Duleep Trophy Amritsar
Thu 4 - 8 March Duleep Trophy Final Mohali