Keedy hurt by England snub

Gary Keedy says he is hurt - but not bitter - by being overlooked by England as understudy to Ashley Giles. Keedy, Lancashire's slow left-arm bowler, took the most wickets in domestic cricket last season, with 72 victims, and had a successful season the previous year, where he took 60 wickets at 25.53.

"There was no phone call for South Africa and it hurt," Keedy, 30, told BBC Sport, "especially after being in the frame for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, missing out and then having an even better season. I'm not sour about it and I'm not looking for explanations - I know they don't have to give me one - but sometimes you have to pick players for what they do on merit.

Keedy admits, however, that his batting may let him down, and that is where his rival Gareth Batty steals an advantage. "I was disappointed not to go to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2003 because of the season I'd had," he added. "Gareth Batty and Ashley can bat better than me but, as far as the bowling goes, I had a good 2003 and backed it up with a good 2004. I'm not sour. They have reasons for it and I'll just go along with it."