Cricket: Dubliner Ed Joyce has been rewarded for his encouraging performances during the Commonwealth Bank Series with a place in England's 15-man World Cup squad.
England chairman of selectors David Graveney unveiled his panel this morning, saying he hoped captain Michael Vaughan would be fit to lead the team in the tournament in the West Indies.
The one surprise in the squad is the inclusion of 21-year-old Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara, who made his one-day international debut against Australia in the recent series.
"The selectors were delighted with the team's outstanding performance in winning the Commonwealth Bank Series and we have retained the bulk of the squad who were in Australia for the World Cup," Graveney said.
"Michael Vaughan, James Anderson and Jon Lewis are all still recovering from injuries at present and have been named in the squad subject to a further re-assessment prior to our departure for the Caribbean.
"They will continue to undergo intensive treatment over the next fortnight and the medical staff will be giving the selectors regular updates on their progress. Kevin Pietersen, however, is now fully recovered from his rib injury and will be keen to make an impact in his first World Cup."
Leicestershire's Paul Nixon, like Bopara a debutant Down Under, claims the wicketkeeper's spot ahead of Chris Read.
Anderson, Lewis, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett and Monty Panesar are the specialist bowling options with Bopara, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff and Jamie Dalrymple the all-rounders.
The batting line-up consists of Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, Joyce, Ian Bell, and Andrew Strauss.
England squad: Michael Vaughan (captain), Ed Joyce, Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Nixon (wicketkeeper), Jamie Dalrymple, Monty Panesar, Jon Lewis, James Anderson, Liam Plunkett, Sajid Mahmood.