Napier misses out on Champions Trophy squad
6:50am Friday 4th July 2008
Essex all-rounder Graham Napier's Twenty20 heroics were not enough to earn him a place in England's provisional 30-man ICC Champions Trophy squad.
The 28-year-old caught the eye - and imagination - of the cricketing world by smashing a world record 16 sixes in a magnificent unbeaten 152 in the Eagles' Twenty20 Cup win over Sussex last week.
The innings led many commentators, including former England selector David Lloyd and ex-Essex and England captain Nasser Hussain, to put Napier's name forward for England's one-day squad.
Both suggested the Colchester-born player's brutal hitting and reliable seam bowling could make an impact on the international stage.
But England national selector - and former Essex all-rounder - Geoff Miller did not agree, leaving Napier out of his squad for this September's tournament in Pakistan.
Essex wicket-keeper James Foster, who has played 11 One-Day Internationals, was also overlooked despite his impressive Friends Provident Trophy and Twenty20 Cup form in recent weeks.
Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara, both of whom featured in England's recent One-Day International series defeat to New Zealand, are both in.
The call-ups will cause the pair to miss Essex's final three LV County Championship matches of the season against Northants, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire and NatWest Pro40 Division Two clashes with Warwickshire and Kent.
England, who are in Group B in the eight-team tournament, will take on Sri Lanka (September 14 in Karachi), New Zealand (September 19 in Rawalpindi) and South Africa (September 21 in Rawalpindi).
Provisional England squad: Collingwood (Durham, capt), Ambrose, Bell, (both Warwickshire), Anderson, Flintoff, Mahmood (all Lancashire), Bopara, Cook (both Essex), Bresnan (Yorkshire), Jones (Worcestershire), Joyce, Shah, Strauss (all Middlesex), Key, Tredwell (both Kent), Carberry, Mascarenhas, Pietersen, Tremlett (all Hampshire), Mustard, Onions, Plunkett (all Durham), Panesar (Northamptonshire), Broad, Patel, Pattinson, Sidebottom, Swann (all Nottinghamshire), Prior and Wright (both Sussex).