Prior out, Strauss in... England announce squads

England have announced their squads for their upcoming tour of New Zealand, with wicketkeeper Matt Prior the most noticeable casualty. Prior endured a tough time in Sri Lanka behind the stumps but impressed somewhat with the bat, and has been replaced in the squad by his former Sussex county colleague Tim Ambrose. Ambrose will challenge Phil Mustard for the gloves, with Ambrose expected to be first-choice 'keeper in Test matches, and Mustard keeping wicket in one-dayers.

One of Prior's high-profile blunders, dropping Sachin Tendulkar off Sidebottom.

Prior can take heart from the selection of Strauss - the left-hander was left out of the Sri Lanka tour but makes a comeback after joining a New Zealand state side before the tour. His re-introduction means a likely shift in the England batting order, with skipper Michael Vaughan likely to drop to 3 and Ian Bell moving to 6.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "Strauss needed a break from international cricket in our view and he will now be keen to re-establish himself in the Test side. His experience will be of benefit to the squad as a whole"

Australian-born Ambrose shared wicketkeeping duties with Prior when Sussex won the County Championship in 2003, and told of his pride at the news.

"I'm very proud to have the opportunity to hopefully represent the country", said Ambrose. "I'm friends with Matt (Prior) and I'm sure he'll be very disappointed. You can call it rivalry but it's been healthy competition."

England's Squads to tour New Zealand:

One-day squad:
P, Collingwood (Durham, capt), T Ambrose (Warks), J Anderson (Lancs), I Bell (Warks), R Bopara (Essex), S Broad (Notts), A Cook (Essex), D Mascarenhas (Hants), P Mustard (Durham), K Pietersen (Hants), O Shah (Middx), R Sidebottom (Notts), G Swann (Notts), J Tredwell (Kent), C Tremlett (Hants), L Wright (Sussex).

Test squad
M Vaughan (Yorks, capt), T Ambrose (Warks), J Anderson (Lancs), I Bell (Warks), S Broad (Notts), P Collingwood (Durham), A Cook (Essex), S Harmison (Durham), M Hoggard (Yorks), P Mustard (Durham), M Panesar (Northants), K Pietersen (Hants), O Shah (Middx), R Sidebottom (Notts), A Strauss (Middx), G Swann (Notts).

Trescothick puts health above England hopes

Marcus Trescothick has insisted that he will not risk his personal well-being in the hope of earning an England recall. The Somerset batsman hasn't played for his country since 2006 but starred in a full season for his county in 2007.

""I still have aspirations to do it (be recalled), the older I get it will be harder to do it.

"But What I won't do is sacrifice my health to make it happen again.

"My life is more important than cricket".

The 32 year old left hander has twice been sent home from overseas tours with a stress related illness, but still hopes to be named in the squad for the tour of New Zealand.

England drop in world rankings

By Danny Hall

Following their 1-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka, England have dropped three places in the World Rankings from 2nd to 5th. Sri Lanka move up to 3rd.

Second innings Centurion Alastair Cook said: "We can't say we're happy with what happened, we have to start winning.

"As a Test side you can't lose three series in a row because you go down the rankings."

ICC World Rankings (as of 22nd Dec 07)

1. Australia
2. South Africa
3. Sri Lanka
4. India
5. England
6. Pakistan
7. New Zealand
8. West Indies
9. Bangladesh

Skipper praises character as England scrape draw

By Danny Hall

After calling on his team-mates to bat through the final day of the final Test Match, Alastair Cook recorded a century to secure a draw in the last test match in Galle. Cook eventually fell on 118 but his innings was ultimately in vain, as Sri Lanka sealed the series 1-0. Cook's superb innings reinforced his earlier statement that this team wouldn't roll over to the hosts easily, and without the Essex batsman recording England's only century of the tour they could have suffered a 2-0 series defeat - a prospect that looked likely when Kevin Pietersen was caught, Paul Collingwood stumped and Ravinder Bopara run out in one over from Muralitharan.

Captain Michael Vaughan praised the determination and character of his team, Cook in particular, and insisted that there were still positives to be taken from the series defeat.

"We've showed character today and Alastair Cook has shown once again what a great player he is going to be for England. Its been a real learning curve for me and Peter Moores to see where the team is at.

"I cant fault the effort players or the management and Sri Lanka were just the better team throughout the series"

'We won't roll over' - Cook

By Danny Hall

England batsman Alastair Cook insists that his England team will not capitulate and lose the series in Sri Lanka 2-0, even as they face likely defeat in Galle. The visitors need an unlikely 418 runs to avoid an innings defeat after their embarrassing first innings total of 81.

Any hopes of salvaging a series draw were quickly dashed when Sri Lanka mounted 499-8 in their first innings, before Paul Collingwood top-scored with 29 in a woeful innings of 81 all out. However, assisted by rain intervals, Cook insists that England can bat out the final day and avoid a 2-0 series defeat.

Cook said. “We will try to build partnerships on Saturday.

"We are a proud bunch of players, and we will not lie down and accept a 2-0 defeat in the series."

Cook and Ian Bell resume on Day 5 on 53 and 17 respectively, and the Essex left hander insists: “Come Saturday me and Ian Bell will be giving our utmost to save the game.”

Prior - Series draw would be 'massive'

By Danny Hall

Sussex wicket-keeper Matt Prior has admitted that coming away with a draw from the test series in Sri Lanka would be a ‘massive’ result for the England team. Prior, who averages 47.33 approaching the final test in Galle, hailed the character in the England team that managed to snatch a draw in the second test, leaving them with a chance of levelling the series at 1-1.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Prior said: “Of course we approached it like we do every series - looking to emerge victorious - but to come away from here with a win in the final game and a 1-1 series draw would be absolutely massive.

“Having battled well in the first Test only to come up a fraction short, we again showed just how much character we have in this side to grind out a draw in the second match.

That kept us in the series and it's an opportunity we're determined not to miss.”

Prior spent almost three days on the field, but insisted that he is happy to risk fatigue and injury for the good of the squad.

“I've never been in a position like that before but there is no way you will hear me complaining - we'd all rather be out performing than back in the dressing room. We're relishing the challenge.

“We all knew there would be times on this tour when things would be tough, and we were determined that we would meet those challenges full of heart and character - I don't think anyone can say we haven't done that.”

The wicket-keeper took time out from preparing for the Galle test match to reflect on what is really a monumental test match for the town devastated by the Tsunami of 2004.

“While the devastation of that terrible time is still apparent to some extent here, it was only really the other day that it dawned on us just how big a deal this match is.

“At the end of the day, we're just a bunch of fellas playing a cricket match, but we have an opportunity to bring some joy to these people and hopefully put on a show”.

Jamie didn't Dally over Glamorgan move

By Danny Hall

England's Jamie Dalrymple has revealed his reasons for leaving Middlesex and move to Glamorgan. Dalrymple, who has played 27 One-Day Internations for England, had been at Middlesex since 2004 and made a somewhat suprising move to Wales, with his new club finishing bottom of both the Pro40 league and the Second Division of the County Championship last season.

But, as Dalrymple says, the lure of working with former England coach Matthew Maynard and Glamorgan's off field progress made the switch easier for him.

""It was a difficult decision," he said. "No decision to leave somewhere where you've been for a while is easy.

"But I came down to visit and quickly got a positive feeling, I saw the new ground, and I know Matt from England - he's a guy who makes things happen"