Carberry Included In England Squads

Michael Carberry is the surprise name in the England squad for the Twenty20 and one-day internationals with Sri Lanka.

The Hampshire opener, who played in all five Ashes Tests over the winter, was outspoken about his omission from the ODI squad in Australia, criticising former England ODI coach Ashley Giles.

But new head coach Peter Moores has called up Carberry - who has started the season in fine form for his county.

Carberry and fit-again Tim Bresnan are added to the 13 men who faced Scotland last week - less Moeen Ali who is dropped - initially for the first three of the five ODI matches.

Carberry is also named in the T20 squad, as is Ian Bell, in superlative form for Warwickshire this season. Bell has not played a T20 match for England for three years. A notable omission from the T20 squad is Nottinghamshire's Michael Lumb.

Eoin Morgan will, as expected, skipper the T20 team.

Seamers Harry Gurney, who made his international debut in a reduced 50-over match against Scotland last week, and Bresnan - after his late start to the season - are also in both squads.

National selector James Whittaker said: "Michael Carberry deserves his chance. He was very close to a place in the Twenty20 squad for the World Cup.

"He has been a consistent performer for Hampshire in Twenty20 cricket and one-day cricket in the last few years, so he fully deserves his chance and we look forward to seeing him in the opportunities he is going to get."

On Bell's return to the T20 scene he said: "Ian Bell has been in and around that Twenty20 squad before even though he has played a limited amount of games. With his experience he can offer some top order presence. So we look forward to seeing him on the stage, exhibiting his skills."

Morgan - who passed up the chance to play in the Indian Premier League in order to win back his Test place - is another man in form for his county.

And Whittaker says good performances for England in limited-overs cricket will help his case for inclusion in that Test side.

"Eoin has had some experience of Test match cricket and what's really great to see is how he has committed himself to Middlesex this season. Eoin has a good chance, of course he has, as do a number of players. Weight of runs will certainly help his case," he said.

England have made no secret of their desire to have a left-arm seamer in their armoury, and Whittaker says Nottinghamshire's Gurney is the man in the possession.

"Harry has pushed his way to the top of the pile at the moment. He's got a good domestic record. His economy rate is very good in all forms of cricket. He's the kind of character we like and we had a good look at him over the winter in and around the Test match squad and in the West Indies," he said.

Moeen Ali keeps his T20 place but is dropped from the ODI squad. Whittaker hinted that the Worcestershire star is perhaps being lined up for the Tests.

"Moeen has started the season well for Worcestershire. We are monitoring him closely for the longer game but for now we like our balance we've got for Sri Lanka," he said.

England T20 squad v Sri Lanka: Morgan, M Ali, Bell, Bopara, Bresnan, Buttler, Carberry, Gurney, Hales, Jordan, Root, Tredwell, Woakes

England ODI squad v Sri Lanka: Cook, Anderson, Ballance, Bell, Bopara, Bresnan, Buttler, Carberry, Gurney, Jordan, Morgan, Root, Tredwell, Woakes