AFP/London

Matt Prior
England handed feisty wicketkeeper Matt Prior a surprise call up as they announced yesterday their 15-man squad for next month’s ICC Cricket World Cup.
England also rewarded Ashes heroes Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen, both of whom have had extended periods out of the limited overs side in recent years, with selection, while struggling veteran Paul Collingwood also made the squad for the tournament in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Unlucky wicketkeeper-batsman Steve Davies makes way for Prior, who earned a recall after 10 months out of the team.
England coach Andy Flower said Prior had forced his way back into the side with his performances in Australia, including a dashing century in the fifth Test.
“We believe that Matt Prior is best suited to the sub-continent conditions and that’s why we’ve picked him,” Flower said in Hobart.
“It was a tough decision. We always knew that the timing of the World Cup announcement was going to be tricky. It’s not ideal one game into a seven-match series.
“Steven Davies was picked in our last one-day series, he did OK against Pakistan. He picked him for this series in Australia because of the conditions out here.
“The circumstances have changed. Matt Prior did very well out here in the Test matches,” Flower said.
“He is a combative, aggressive cricketer. He fits our aggressive fielding unit so those are the reasons why he has been picked for the World Cup.”
Prior will also take over the gloves for the English team in the current seven-match one-day international series against Australia, starting with Friday’s game in Hobart, the state capital of Tasmania.
The 28-year-old has played 55 ODIs but has not added to that tally since March last year.
England squad:
Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy.

How, Woodcock named in New Zealand World Cup squad

All-rounder Luke Woodcock and top-order batsman Jamie How were surprise inclusions in New Zealand’s 15-man World Cup squad yesterday.
How was brought back into the international set-up late last year for New Zealand’s matches in India after an absence of two years and will serve as back-up wicketkeeper to Brendon McCullum, who has given up the role in test matches.
McCullum has been troubled with a recent back injury and Peter McGlashan would remain on standby in New Zealand should he have to pull out of the Feb. 19-April 2 tournament, convenor of selectors Mark Greatbatch said.
Woodcock, who is the third spinner, has yet to play a one-day international.
“We’ve taken a bit of a punt there but at the end of the day we thought a third spinner was more important in the sub-continent and Pete McGlashan is on standby,” Greatbatch told reporters at the Basin Reserve.
“(Jamie How) is a good athlete. I kept in a World Cup game a few years ago and at the end of the day it’s about catching a ball and he was keen to do it. “The schedule (also) allows us to get someone over (to India) if we need to.”
Woodcock made his international debut in a recent Twenty20 match against Pakistan.