By Ben Woodall
December 2 2002

Worcestershires young pace bowler Kabir Ali has been called up into the England ODI squad for the forthcoming VB series involving the Australians and the Sri Lankans.

Previously uncapped Ali,22,has been called up from Englands development Academy based in Australia after he has shown significant progress out there so far.Kabir will also join fellow new ODI squad members Steve Harmison and Robert Key after both impressed in the recent Test matches.

Ali managed to secure a place at the Academy,along with fellow Worcestershire player Gareth Batty,after impressing many last season with his consistent wicket taking.Regarded by many as definitely one to watch,Kabir took a total of 71 wickets at an average of 25.08 whilst also picking up the clubs Player Of The Year award.

Englands 16-man squad will begin their series of ODI's on December 13th in Sydney where they will be hoping to fare better than they did in the recent Tests against the overpowering Aussies.

The full England squad is as follows: Nasser Hussain (capt), Kabir Ali, Ian Blackwell, Andrew Caddick, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Ronni Irani, Robert Key, James Kirtley, Nick Knight, Owais Shah, Jeremy Snape, Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, Craig White.