Alastair Cook will lead the England team for the first time since taking on the full-time captaincy of the one-day side; and does so after a heavy defeat by Sri Lanka in the recent one-off Twenty20 match in Bristol.

Alastair Cook told BBC Radio 5 live: “We’ve always had the idea that if Bressie came through a few games he would come into the squad. He has been a stalwart in our bowling for the last couple of years.”

Bresnan last played for England in the World Cup after initially getting injured during a one-day international in Hobart in January.  But on his return to playing county cricket for Yorkshire and experiencing recurring pain from the injury he has been sidelined since mid-May.

At the weekend Bresnan returned for Yorkshire and played two Friends Life T20 matches. Against Worcestershire he took 1-47 in his four overs and made 25 not out from 17 balls.  He came through the weekend without any recurrence of pain or injury and this, along with his performances were enough to earn a recall to the England squad.

Alastair Cook didn’t play in the recent Twenty20 defeat but will be well aware of the 5-0 drubbing England received at the hands of Sri Lanka in a home one-day series five years ago.

England One-Day Squad
Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Chris Woakes.

Sri Lanka One-Day Squad
Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain if fit), Thilina Kandamby, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Suraj Randiv, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Kumar Sangakkara.

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2011 Cricket World Cup

Sadly I missed the live coverage of the dream tie between India and Australia, but managed to catch most of the highlights on TV.

The Australian’s looked to be in decent enough form throughout the majority of the game, but India always looked to be in control of the match, barring a few slapstick moments with the bat when two or three of them seemed intent on getting run out.

India’s win put an end to Australia’s incredible run in the World Cup competition which they have won on the last three occasions, they were also beaten finalists previous to that in 1996.

India now face one of  the nations who were originally going co-host the Cricket World Cup, Pakistan in what promises to be another thrilling game of one day cricket.

In today’s third quarter final tie South Africa collapsed dramatically from a comfortable 108 for 2 off 24 overs, to 172 all out.

Some inspired bowling from New Zealand oversaw the collapse with McCullum 24 for 3 and Oram 39 for 4, skittling the South African batsmen who could manage to add 64 runs between them during the final 20 overs.

New Zealand are the dark horses for me, they may not have the same ability in all levels as the remaining teams in the World Cup, but they have so far done everything they have set out to do in a business like manner.

They will now face the winners of the last quarter final to be played on Saturday between Sri Lanka and England.

2011 Cricket World Cup

Pakistan became the first of the host nations of the 2011 Cricket World Cup to reach the semi finals of the tournament following a very public trouncing of the West Indies in Mirpur today.

The West Indies had very little to offer with bat or ball in a dismal showing that saw them bowled out for just 112 runs in 43.3 overs. Chanderpaul was the only batsman to show any form of authority in the innings claiming 44 runs not out.

Shahid Afridi was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers taking 4 for 30, but he was one of three who claimed two wickets in an over as the West Indies innings collapsed around their ears.

The pace bowling attack of the West Indies held little fear for the Pakistan openers who picked them off to reach 50 runs in 47 balls, the body language of the field telling its own sorry story.

Akmal (47) and Hafeez (61) ensured the victory for Pakistan with less than half the allocated overs played, they will now face the victors of the match between India and Australia in the semi finals of the competition.

2011 ICC Cricket World Cup – Quarter Finals – Mirpur

Pakistan 113-0 (20.5 overs) bt West Indies 112 (43.3 overs) by 10 wickets

However with England winning the toss in Adelaide and choosing to bat first they set the Australians a reasonable target to chase, scoring 299 for 8 from their allotted fifty overs.

Jonathon Trott once again showed just how important he is to the the England team with a match winning performance of 102 runs from 126 balls before falling to the bowling of Hussey, with England on 224 for 5 at that stage.

When Morgan fell just three runs later England fans could have been forgiven if they expected a spectacular collapse, but Collingwood (27) and more so Yardy (39no), ensured that at least Australia would have to put up a fight to claim the fourth ODI match in a row.

The return of the prodigal son, in the shape of Anderson, will have boosted the confidence in the England camp but his return of 2 for 57 paled into insignificance as batting hero Trott continued his one man show, claiming the crucial wickets of White and Hussey to record bowling figures of 2 for 31 from his allocated 7 overs.

It was a great day for the Warwickshire batsman (and bowler) who has been crucial to the England team this past year or so.

Whether England have turned the corner in this ODI series remains to be seen, it would be an almighty achievement if they could win the next three matches to win the series, but they are still the underdogs and cannot afford to lose focus.

Australia v England fourth ODI in Adelaide

England beat Australia by 21 runs

Australia: 278-7 (50.0 overs)

England: 299-8 (50.0 overs)

If the Australian’s found something close to their best form at the Oval, England’s luck seemed to have deserted them at times and captain Andrew Strauss blamed a ‘return to bad habits’ for the 78 run defeat.

The Australian’s put on 290 for 5 with the bat with both Michael Clarke (99 not out) and Ricky Ponting (92) starring, but England’s belief that they could chase the Aussie total down was misguided as the batting order collapsed around their ears.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris picked up 5 wickets for Australia at the expense of just 32 runs as only Michael Yardy could get past the 50 mark for England, scoring 57 runs.

While it was a poor effort from the England batsmen, Australia harried them into mistakes with some sharp bowling and fielding throughout the session and thoroughly deserved the win skittling England for 212 in 42.4 overs.

Andrew Strauss said;

“It was not so good today. I thought we could chase 290 but we lost too many wickets too early. It was a disappointing day, but you have to put it in the context of the series. We have had a lot of good days so far and we want to finish well.

We certainly want to finish the series 4-1 instead of 3-2 and finish well. As for personnel we’ll have to see how the players are tomorrow.”

Australia looked to be comfortable with the bat after being put in by Andrew Strauss, after 13 overs amassing 75 runs for no wicket, jangling the English nerves.

A decent spell from Graeme Swann (4 for 37) and then James Anderson (3 for 22) put England firmly in the driving seat dismissing the Australians for 212 in 46 overs.

With the rapid loss of Kieswetter (0) to substitute Tait’s bowling, Australia fancied having a go, but captain Andrew Strauss steadied the ship for England with a fine innings, putting on 87 runs before being dismissed at 189 for 5.

Needing just 28 runs and with six wickets in hand in the 42nd over, some fine bowling from Tait and Bollinger had the England attack twitching.

Finally Tom Bresnan became the England hero, scrambling the runs needed for the win in the final two overs of the game, with five balls spare.

There are two matches left in the series for Australia to redeem themselves, but victory is not an option as England hold a 3-0 advantage.

Australia’s Michael Clarke had already scored his highest One Day International score in England with 87 not out, setting a reasonably challenging target for the English batsmen to chase, following some mediocre run scoring from some of the Aussie big hitters.

But for a long while the Australians held the upper hand with Strauss and Collingwood going particularly cheaply.  Kieswetter (38) and Pietersen (29) didn’t really set the place alight either and it was left to Morgan and Luke Wright to put on a 95 run partnership in15 overs to turn the game in England’s favour.

Suddenly England had the impetus in what had looked to be a much closer game only a few overs before and Morgan’s ability to pick the right shots at the right time ensured that the hosts would win the game with an impressive four overs to spare.

Of course being English we are easily able to forget how fickle the weather is in our country and the frustration of rain interrupting play, but in reality that is part and parcel of the game almost everywhere.

With the Ashes and T20 World Cup trophies in their pockets the England team is about to set out on a memorable summer of International cricket.

The first of three series of  One Day Internationals starts in just a couple of weeks time on June 22nd with five matches against Australia, followed by three matches against Bangladesh.

One Day Internationals return for a final series of five matches against Pakistan on September 10th, preceded by two Twenty20 games with Pakistan on September 5th and 7th.

If limited over cricket is a bit too exciting, Test match fans will be happy to know that they too are well catered for in the upcoming months.

Pakistan will entertain Australia in the npower test match series that runs from July 13th to July 25th with a five day series at both Lords and Headingley.

On July 29th Pakistan will take on England in the same npower series with matches taking place at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, both five day series that will end on August 10th.

The Ashes series will follow in Australia on November 25th and finishing on December 30th and if you are in Australia for Christmas the Ashes tickets are available now to make for an even more unforgettable holiday down under.

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One of England’s heroes from the Test matches against Bangladesh, Finn took 15 wickets from the two match series, including a 5 for 42 during the final innings of the game.

National selector Geoff Miller has told the 21 year old bowler that he will be rested from the upcoming summer One Day Internationals against Australia and Bangladesh to undergo a similar programme that led to Stuart Broad being rested for the recent Test matches.

With the emergence of so much young talent in the England squad the selectors obviously feel that have enough cover available to enable them to undertake ongoing training programmes for their young stars without fielding a weakened side.

It is great news for England cricket that the national team has such a depth of quality and that young players are not just being given the opportunity to play at the highest level, but are grabbing their chance with both hands.

It wasn’t too long ago that the fans would wince at the loss of players like Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen who could change a game single handed, how things have changed over the past year or so.

New stars have emerged as England stole the Ashes from Australia last year and have continued to come in and perform at the highest level ever since. To allow these young stars to continue ongoing training programmes has to be applauded and can only make them even better players for the future.

For the first time in many years the future of national English Cricket looks bright, lets hope that at last we are getting things right at every level of the game.

T20 World Cup 2010

The much anticipated T20 World Cup starts today in Guyana with Sri Lanka opening the tournament with their game against New Zealand. Ireland will face the West Indies in the second match of the opening day.

The ICC President David Morgan has promised a festival atmosphere in the Caribbean, expecting a celebration of all that is good about West indies cricket.

Morgan has urged the people of the Caribbean to bring their enthusiasm and passion for cricket to the matches and make it a memorable event for everyone involved.

“Bring your musical instruments, your songs and cheers, your flags, banners and colourful costumes. And, above all, bring that party spirit for which cricket matches in the West Indies are famous.”

Australia start as narrow favourites to win the tournament, but England’s T20 underachievers are getting former captain Michael Vaughan excited.

Having secured warm up wins against Bangladesh and South Africa, confidence in the England camp is bound to be high. Despite the top order pairing of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter yet to prove themselves, Vaughan is hopeful for Paul Collingwood’s team and says;

“This is the first time I have got excited about the England squad coming into the T20 World Cup. For the first time we have guys in the batting with power from one to seven. Maybe we’re a little bit inexperienced in the bowling department, but I think it’s the batting which has let us down in the past. We have had guys who have played in the Indian Premier League – which is a big plus to a team going into a tournament like this. I would be disappointed if we don’t put up some kind of fight.”

Meanwhile Ireland will be action on day one of the tournament having lost their warm ups against New Zealand and Afghanistan. They face the West Indies today in their opening game and coach Phil Simmons is confident that Ireland will come good, suggesting that his team still have the desire to perform in the competition.

The tournament is split into four groups of three with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the Super Eights.

The semi-finals take place in St Lucia on 13 and 14 May and the final in Barbados on 16 May.