Cricket: England Drop Vince For Pakistan ODIs

LONDON, Aug 16, (APP/AFP) - England dropped struggling batsman James Vince for their one-day international series against Pakistan, it was announced Tuesday. But they have recalled fit-again Durham duo Ben Stokes and Mark Wood into a 15-man squad which also features a call-up for Vince's Hampshire team-mate Liam Dawson, yet to make his ODI debut. The five-match series starts at Hampshire's Southampton ground on Wednesday, August 24. Vince failed to score a Test 50 after making his debut against Sri Lanka earlier this season and the recent Pakistan series saw him manage just 158 runs in seven innings at a meagre average of 22. Steven Finn was not included after the fast bowler tore his hamstring during England's 10-wicket defeat by Pakistan in last week's fourth Test at The Oval.

England one-day captain Eoin Morgan, who led the side to a 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka earlier in the season, has been selected despite not playing since breaking a finger batting for Middlesex on July 26. Meanwhile wicket-keeper Jos Buttler has also overcome a finger injury. Stokes has been sidelined with knee and calf injuries this season while Wood has undergone two ankle operations since last playing for England in a Test against Pakistan in Dubai in October. Both players are set to feature for Durham in Saturday's Twenty20 finals day at Edgbaston, although all-rounder Stokes is not expected to bowl. "Ben's made really significant progress over the last three weeks," England national selector James Whitaker told the ECB website. "He's progressing nicely towards bowling over the next week or so, and while we hope that initially he might just play as a batter, he will lead into the series as an all-rounder eventually." - 'Vital cog' - =============== As for Buttler and Morgan, Whitaker said: "I spoke to Jos two or three days ago. "He's very happy and very comfortable.

He's been catching a lot of balls... He's a vital cog in our one-day team. "And the captain is recovering nicely with his fingers so, all being well, they're good to go.

" Spin bowler Dawson made an impressive Twenty20 England debut at his Southampton home ground in July, taking three for 27 in England's eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka. With England set to tour Bangladesh and India, where pitches usually assist spinners, Dawson will be looking to push his case as the third specialist slow bowler behind Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid. England decided against resting star batsman Joe Root, even though concerns have been raised about his workload given he is a mainstay in all three international formats. But Whitaker said there was competition for batting places following the recent success of England's second-string Lions side. "Players like Ben Duckett, Sam Billings and Dawid Malan have all been performing very well in the Lions -- and James Vince, although he's not in this squad, remains in our plans," he explained.

England's one-day cricket has been on the up following the embarrassment of a first-round exit at last year's World Cup. "We've had a lot of confidence come out of our one-day team over the last 18 months, and this selection just emphasises how well they've done," said Whitaker. Pakistan, whose victory at The Oval saw them draw the four-match Test series at 2-2, have already named their one-day squad. They face Ireland in two ODIs, in Malahide near Dublin on Thursday and Saturday, before returning to England. England squad Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire,wkt), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire, Liam Plunkett(Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes(Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham) England v Pakistan ODI fixtures: Aug 24: 1st ODI, Southampton Aug 27: 2nd ODI, Lord's Aug 30: 3rd ODI, Trent Bridge Sep 01: 4th ODI, Headingley Sep 04: 5th ODI, Cardiff