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).