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Three new players in EPS

LONDON: England included three new players in a 26-man preliminary cricket squad for this year’s Test series against New Zealand and South Africa.

Hampshire opener Michael Carberry, Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid and Kent off-spinner James Tredwell were named in the England Performance Squad (EPS) on Monday alongside the country’s 12 centrally contracted cricketers and another 11 players.

“The selectors can name up to 30 players in the EPS, but we have decided to keep four places vacant at present in order to give ourselves greater flexibility,” National selector Geoff Miller said.

All 26 players are unlikely to feature in the three Tests against New Zealand and four against South Africa.

However, they have an incentive to perform well for their counties and in training since the England and Wales Cricket Board can award temporary central contracts.

The first Test against New Zealand starts on May 15 at Lord’s.

The England Performance Squad (x-denotes centrally contracted player): Tim Ambrose, James Anderson (x), Ian Bell (x), Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Michael Carberry, Paul Collingwood (x), Alastair Cook (x), Andrew Flintoff (x), Stephen Harmison (x), Matthew Hoggard (x), Robert Key, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Philip Mustard, Monty Panesar (x), Kevin Pietersen (x), Matthew Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Andrew Strauss (x), Ryan Sidebottom (x), Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Chris Tremlett, Michael Vaughan (x), Luke Wright. — AP

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