Collingwood named captain for World Twenty20

The selectors have opted for James Foster as wicketkeeper in the 15-man squad ahead of Test keeper Matt Prior while all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is selected,subject to a full recovery from the knee surgery which will keep him out of the two-Test series against West Indies.

National selector Geoff Miller told Sky Sports that Foster had been recalled to the national side for the first time in seven years because of his skill at standing up to the stumps.

“He’s been excellent over the last couple of years while standing up to the stumps,” Miller said.

Graham Napier,who smashed 152 not out from 58 deliveries for Essex against Sussex last year,was also named in the squad along with former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan.

Miller said the selectors had thought hard about the captaincy before deciding on Collingwood.

“Captaincy is always a difficult decision but we felt that was the right one,” he said. “It’s a short three-week period,it won’t affect his game. He’s quite relaxed about the situation.”

Squad: P Collingwood (captain),J Anderson,R Bopara,S Broad,A Flintoff,J Foster (wk),R Key,D Mascarenhas,E Morgan,G Napier,K Pietersen,O Shah,R Sidebottom,G Swann,L Wright.