Root added to T20I squad

England

Batsman Joe Root has been added to England's squad for this month's two-match Twenty20 International series against Australia.

Batsman Joe Root has been added to England's squad for this month's Twenty20 International series against Australia.

A 13-man squad had been announced for the two fixtures at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on 29 August and the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on 31 August, with Root's belated inclusion bolstering the top order.

Only two members of the Test team – fast bowlers Stuart Broad and Steven Finn – have been included. Spinner Danny Briggs and former Ireland seamer Boyd Rankin have been retained. The uncapped Michael Carberry, meanwhile, has earned a deserved call-up.

The left-handed Carberry amassed 502 runs in 11 innings at an average of 55.77 and strike rate of 142.61, including a century and four half-tons, during Durham's 2013 Friends Life t20 campaign.

"With only eight international T20 matches until the World T20 next April this series is an important chance for players to show they are capable of performing well at this level," said national selector Geoff Miller.

"The two matches will also allow Ashley Giles and Stuart an opportunity to look at a number of different options.

"This squad combines players with plenty of international experience with players who have impressed at domestic level and who deserve an opportunity to test themselves in an international environment against what will no doubt be a strong Australian side."

All-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes and batsmen Gary Ballance and Kevin Pietersen, who were in the 14-man party for June's series against New Zealand, were excluded.

<b>Squad:</b> Stuart Broad (captain), Ravi Bopara, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Michael Carberry, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Boyd Rankin, James Tredwell, Luke Wright, Joe Root.

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