Denly gets the call

Seems like the England selectors have been taking note of my 'Eye on England' for Joe Denly.

The Kent batsman has received his first International call-up, and it's some call! He's been selected in the ODI Squad for the matches against Australia, plus the Champions Trophy in South Africa later in the year. Congrats Joe!

A very talented batsman, Denly has been on the tip of selector's tongues for a long time now. Having played numerous games for the Lions, he'll have some kind of flavour for facing International bowlers. Hopefully he'll give the England top-order what they've been missing for a very long time now - a bit of flair.

While Denly has been included in both Squads, Kevin Pietersen has been included in neither. The Achilles injury will keep KP out of all International action this Summer, meaning if England are to win any major honours in the next few months, they're going to have to do it without their star batsman. A challenge, but one I'm interested and excited about. I want us to do well without Pietersen, to shut up all those cynics out there who think England are a one-man team. Jog on.

Andrew Flintoff has also been included in the Squads, despite suffering from a Knee injury that has forced him to hang up his boots on Test Cricket. At least with Flintoff in the side, we have some prowess with the ball. As we saw at Headingly in the 4th Test - without Flintoff, the side falls apart.

Adil Rashid, who impressed in the World Twenty20 in this country, keeps his place in the Squad. Whether England will play with two spinners remains to be seen, but Graeme Swann will remain the primary spinner. Tim Bresnan, who did an admirable job earlier on in the summer against West Indies gets a call, as does Irish-born batsman Eoin Morgan, who's had little impact so far since making the switch of allegiance.

Squad for ODI's v Australia & Champions Trophy:
A Strauss (Captain), J Anderson, R Bopara, T Bresnan, S Broad, P Collingwood, J Denly, A Flintoff, E Morgan, M Prior, A Rashid, O Shah, R Sidebottom, G Swann, L Wright.