Yesterday I gave you the run-down on the England squad for the World T20, but who of the 15-man squad should be selected for our opening game against the West Indies later?
My XI: Yardy, Kieswetter, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan, Wright, Yardy, Bresnan, Swann, Anderson, Sidebottom.
One to watch: Michael Yardy
Ravi Bopara has been making noises like he wants to play up at the top of the order. However, England have gone through tonnes of opening partnerships in recent times and I think the Yardy/Kieswetter one should be left as is; they are two batsmen who get on with each other, and while I can't see them being tournament top scorers, they could provide the odd useful cameo.
KP will go in at the fall of the first wicket, we just have to hope that his baby doesn't pop out during the game, so that he has to dash home to see it.
Luke Wright is in the side. There are more stylish batsmen and more skilful bowlers, but an all-rounder is an all-rounder and give plenty more selection options. Wright is an expert of batting at the death, but can play big scores too, with a 71 being his T20I record.
Below Wright in my XI is Michael Yardy. He and Graeme Swann will play very important roles on the spin-friendly Providence wicket and the Sussex all-rounder has been in tip-top form in the warm-up matches. Yardy is an all-rounder also and more often than not he adds useful totals to a Twenty20 score.
Ryan Sidebottom's recent form has caused selection headaches for us recently, and the veteran seamer is in my side in favour of Stuart Broad *gasp!* Sidebottom's recent form has been second to none, and being the best seamer in the warm-up games surely merits a place in the squad. Broad is out but Bresnan stays purely on his batting ability.
