England set to name extended squad ahead of Ashes

Published: June 18, 2009

LONDON (AFP) - England have delayed the announcement of an extended squad for the forthcoming Ashes series to give the likes of Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell a chance to stake their claim to face Australia.
The selectors were due to announce the squad, which could include as many as 17 players, on Saturday to meet up next week and then move on to Birmingham for their three-day match against Warwickshire starting on July 1.
But England have delayed that announcement and will now release the list of names on Monday after this week's round of championship matches have been completed.
That will give former captain Vaughan and others one last opportunity to make a significant contribution ahead of the first Test against Ricky Ponting's team in Cardiff on July 8.
During previous Ashes series, including their triumphant 2005 campaign, England have only named a squad for the opening Test but this time the group may include a number of fringe players to form part of a thorough and detailed planning programme for the Ashes.
The majority of the players involved in the World Twenty20 campaign, which ended with a five-wicket defeat to West Indies at The Oval on Monday, will be rested until next weekend.
Kevin Pietersen is unlikely to play any cricket until England meet up in Birmingham to give his troublesome Achilles injury time to heal, while several other members of the Ashes line-up have been given the rest of this week off.
Pace bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad will be rested alongside off-spinner Graeme Swann, Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara.

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