• England news

KP and Swann out of T20 squad

Kevin Pietersen will be rested for England's T20 fixtures in India © Getty Images

Enlarge

England's policy of rotating their squad will continue in the T20 and ODI series against India either side of Christmas.

Graeme Swann has been omitted from both squads while Steven Finn will only take part in the ODIs in January. Kevin Pietersen is back in England's ODI squad but he will also miss the T20s.

Stuart Meaker could be in line for a T20 debut, as the only player uncapped in T20s in the 13-man squad which doesn't include a specialist wicketkeeper. Jonny Baristow, who kept in England's World T20 defeat to Sri Lanka in Pallekele, will take the gloves again.

Bairstow replaced Craig Kieswetter behind the stumps after a poor run of scores but Kieswetter retains his place in the 15-man ODI squad which shows further signs of England's desire to protect the workload of their players ahead of back-to-back Ashes series.

"We are constantly looking to manage the workload of players as effectively as possible and this winter is no different," national selector Geoff Miller said. "So there are number of players who are being rested for parts of the winter programme to enable them to take part in fitness and conditioning programmes in preparation for a busy 2013.

"We know that playing limited overs cricket in India can be challenging but the T20 and ODI series provide an excellent opportunity for these players to show that they have learnt valuable lessons from the last ODI series against India and improved as players in subcontinent conditions."

England were whitewashed 5-0 on their ODI tour of India in October 2011 but showed improvement outside of the subcontinent with series victories over Pakistan in the UAE, a comprehensive defeat of Australia at home and a drawn series with South Africa.

Of the side that lost the fifth ODI against South Africa at Trent Bridge, the most notable absentee is Ravi Bopara, who endured a horrendous series with scores of 16, 0, 6 and 0. His exclusion, and Pietersen's return, could spell the end of his international career. The loss of form followed personal problems which saw him withdraw from England's Test squad after 0 and 22 in the opening Test.

Bopara's place will be taken by Pietersen who was successful against Pakistan in the UAE in his new role as opener with Alastair Cook, striking two centuries in England's 4-0 series win. But when Pietersen announced his one-day retirement, Ian Bell was installed at the top of the order and also found form with 370 runs at 41.11 against Australia and South Africa.

The majority of Bell's ODI career has been spent at No. 3, where he has scored 1,649 runs at 37.47. But Jonathan Trott has made No. 3 his own, suggesting Bell could move to No. 4, where he has only batted for 14 matches, allowing Eoin Morgan to move back to the No. 5 spot and best fulfil the finisher role he is tasked with.

But outside of the top five, England have plenty to debate. Do they persist with Kieswetter as wicketkeeper in the middle order, despite his poor record - 203 runs in nine matches - or trust Bairstow with the gloves, allowing them to benefit from his undoubted talent with the bat.

The makeup of the bowling attack will also vary with conditions. It will be led by Steven Finn, who announced himself on the world stage with his performances in England's ODI tour in India last October. Finn went on to lead England's attack with 13 wickets in the UAE and consistently ripped through the Australian top order last summer. Anderson and then Broad will compliment Finn as the second seamer, with Jade Dernbach in reserve.

James Tredwell, who successfully deputised for Swann against Australia and South Africa, will be England's leading spinner with Hampshire's Danny Briggs, who made his international debut with 2 for 39 against Pakistan in Dubai, the option as a second specialist spinner and Samit Patel, the only other player to come out of the last Indian tour with credit, the allrounder at No. 7.

Tim Bresnan could provide another seam option, and extend the batting order, if Briggs is not required.

England T20 squad
Stuart Broad (c), Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, James Tredwell, Luke Wright

England ODI squad
Alastair Cook (c), Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, James Anderson (first three matches), Stuart Broad (final two matches)

Alex Winter is an editorial assistant at ESPNcricinfo

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.