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Prior’s ODI hopes looking grim
England are set to keep faith with the players who flopped in New Zealand when they name a 14-man squad today to face the Kiwis in the upcoming five-match NatWest one-day series.
Despite the freshest evidence available being a comprehensive 3-1 defeat in New Zealand last winter, selector Geoff Miller is likely to spring no surprises.[>
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Aside from an expected recall for Chris Tremlett, who struggled with injury over the winter, there seems precious little to encourage hopes of those on the outside getting a look-in.[>
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It will be a blow, in particular, to Matt Prior. The Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman had hoped a blistering start to his county championship season – he is averaging 67 with the bat – would have pushed his claims ahead of Phil Mustard.[>
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But Mustard, who remains the better glove-man of the two, is understood to have done just enough to warrant another chance to stake a more permanent claim ahead of stiffer tests against South Africa later this summer.[>
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The Black Caps will be without explosive opener Jesse Ryder, 23, who has failed to recover in time from a self-inflicted hand injury. Ryder underwent surgery in February after putting his hand through a window in a bar while celebrating the one-day series win against England. [>
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Peter Fulton, already over here with the Test side, will take his place.[>
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Coach John Bracewell was philosophical despite losing a batsman who averaged 49 in the five-match series. He said: “We know that Jesse can play and we’ve just got to be patient.”[>