The test squad is largely similar to that which toured Sri Lanka the only changes being the replacement of Matt Prior with 25 year old Tim Ambrose and the recall of Andrew Strauss. Wicket-keeper Matt Prior had a generally torrid tour of Sri Lanka, dropping numerous catches and being widely criticised for his poor performances. His replacement Ambrose (born and educated in New South Wales, Australia) is widely regarded as one of the best keepers in the Domestic game while his batting is undoubtedly much improved. It is expected that he will compete with Durham’s Phil Mustard for the Wicket-keeper’s position. The recall of Andrew Strauss had been widely expected. It is likely, however, that he will have to prove his form during his spell with New Zealand first-class side Northern Knights in order to regain a starting berth.            

The one-day squad also sees the selection of Tim Ambrose in place of Matt Prior as well as a first call-up for Kent off-spinner James Tredwell. 25 year-old Tredwell had a good one-day domestic season in 2007, averaging 34.71 with the bat and taking 19 wickets at an average of 34.00. A relatively high domestic economy rate of 5.06 could be a worry however against top-class batsmen. A strong-looking England Lions squad to compete in India at the end of this month sees the inclusion of Yorkshire’s leg-spin prodigy Adil Rashid. The squad, captained by Sussex’s Michael Yardy, contains a number of capped test players along with promising young talent. Monty Panesar is a notable inclusion in this squad, presumably to further his experience and give him match practice before he joins the Test squad for the tour to New Zealand. 

The squads in full: 

England one-day squad to tour New Zealand

Paul Collingwood, captain (Durham)
Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire)
Phil Mustard (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
James Tredwell (Kent)
Chris Tremlett (Hampshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)

England Test squad to tour New Zealand

Michael Vaughan, captain (Yorkshire)
Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Stephen Harmison (Durham)
Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)
Phil Mustard (Durham)
Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)

England Lions squad to tour India

Michael Yardy, captain (Sussex)
Kabir Ali (Worcestershire)
Michael Carberry (Hampshire)
Steven Davies (Worcestershire)
Joe Denly (Kent)
James Hildreth (Somerset)
Ed Joyce (Middlesex)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Alan Richardson (Middlesex)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)

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