England selectors today named a 15-man squad for the three-match NatWest ODI series against New Zealand commencing 31 May and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 commencing in Cardiff on 6 June.
England's first fixture of the eight team global tournament is against Australia at Edgbaston followed by matches versus Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval and a potentially vital final group game against New Zealand at the Cardiff Wales Stadium on Sunday 16 June, which is Father's Day.
The two top-ranked sides from each group will continue to the semi-final stages of the tournament. With the runner up of England's pool playing the group winner which contains India and South Africa, in Cardiff on June 20th. Tickets are still available for this potential semi-final as well as England's game against New Zealand.
Alastair Cook will captain a side that includes two additions from the squad that defeated New Zealand 2-1 in February with Tim Bresnan and Ravi Bopara added.
Six members of the party (James Anderson, Bopara, Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Eoin Morgan and Graeme Swann) were involved in the last ICC Champions Trophy held in 2009 in South Africa.
Geoff Miller, National Selector, said: "We know that the three-match series against New Zealand will be very challenging and we will need to play some very good cricket if we are to repeat the success we had against them earlier this year and build momentum leading into the ICC Champions Trophy.
"The ICC Champions Trophy provides this England squad with a great opportunity to win a global 50-over event - something we have yet to achieve, and we are excited to be playing on home soil.
"We are fully aware that with the best eight sides in world cricket competing against each other we will need to play a very high standard of cricket over a three-week period to give ourselves a chance of winning the title and are very much looking forward to the challenge."
Tickets for under 16s are priced at £5 for the entire tournament (including the Final). U16s must attend with an adult in their party. Tickets for under 21s are priced between £10 - £25. Buy online www.icc-cricket.com
NatWest ODI Series vs New Zealand schedule
1st ODI - 31 May, Lord's
2nd ODI - 2 June, Ageas Bowl
3rd ODI - 5 June, Trent Bridge
ICC Champions Trophy
vs Australia - 8 June, Edgbaston
vs Sri Lanka - 13 June, The Oval
vs New Zealand - 16 June, The Cardiff Wales Stadium
England Champions Trophy squad: AN Cook (Essex), (Capt), JM Anderson (Lancashire), JM Bairstow (Yorkshire), IR Bell, (Warwickshire), RS Bopara (Essex), TT Bresnan (Yorkshire), SCJ Broad, (Nottinghamshire), JC Buttler (Somerset) (WK), ST Finn (Middlesex), EJG Morgan, (Middlesex), JE Root (Yorkshire), GP Swann (Nottinghamshire), JC Tredwell, (Kent), IJL Trott (Warwickshire), CR Woakes (Warwickshire)
