Gough and Harmison get England one-day call

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

LONDON, England (AFP): England called up pace bowlers Darren Gough and Steve Harmison into their squad Tuesday for their forthcoming one-day series in the Caribbean against the West Indies.

England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said: "Darren has proved his fitness to our medical team and his inclusion will give us valuable experience and know-how within our bowling attack. 

"He is a proven international performer and I'm sure that he will be relishing the prospect of his first England tour of the Caribbean."

Turning to Harmison's selection, Graveney added: "Stephen was a member of our World Cup squad last winter and is an important part of our plans for the future in both forms of the game. 

"He has performed superbly against the West Indies in the Test series and we hope that he can carry this rich vein of form into the one-day arena."

Gough, 33, who retired from Test cricket last season because of a persistent knee injury but made himself available for the limited overs game, was furious at not being included for the one-day series away to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on the first half of England's winter programme.

He has taken 188 wickets in 121 one-day internationals for England at an impressive average of 24.96 and will play county cricket for Essex next season after moving from his native Yorkshire.

Durham quick Harmison, 25, who many thought too wayward for one-day cricket, has been a revelation on England's ongoing Test tour of the West Indies, taking 16 wickets in two games to help Michael Vaughan's men to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

England have not won a Test series in the Caribbean since 1968. The third Test starts in Barbados on Thursday.

The seven-match one-day series begins in Guyana on April 18.

Squad:
Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), James Anderson (Lancashire), Gareth Batty (Worcestershire), Ian Blackwell (Somerset), Rikki Clarke (Surrey), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire), Darren Gough (Essex), Stephen Harmison (Durham), James Kirtley (Sussex), Anthony McGrath (Yorkshire), Chris Read (Nottinghamshire, wkt), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)

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