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National selector Geoff Miller insists England are in good shape in Twenty20 and 50-over cricket heading into their eagerly-anticipated winter one-day campaign.
They fly to Antigua next month for the Stanford Super Series, with a $20million jackpot on offer for the winners of the Twenty20 match against the Stanford Superstars on November 1.
A seven-match one-day series against India gets under way later that month, and England have opted to name the same 15-strong squad for both forms of the limited-overs game.
England depart for the Caribbean on the back of a comprehensive 4-0 NatWest Series triumph over South Africa, and Miller is cheered by the talent at the selectors’ disposal.
“We’ve got strength in depth in all kinds of areas, so I think we’re pretty well covered,” he told ECBtv.
“The Twenty20 is a big match for many reasons; we’ve got a squad that can compete in both of those.
“We’re in a nice position at the moment. That doesn’t mean to say they’re completely secure in their positions - there are people knocking on the door.
“We’re wanting that all the time but we’re quite happy with the way things are going.”
Miller admitted he and his fellow selectors considered picking specialist Twenty20 players, a tactic England favoured during last year’s ICC World Twenty20.
“It was discussed,” he said. “We put a lot of time into the discussion; it’s obviously a very big winter for us.
“But we looked at the players we’ve got and we’ve done pretty well in the Twenty20 internationals.
“We’ve got some quality players now to combat any kind of a game, whether it’s 50 overs or Twenty20. We’re covered in both areas and the players can adapt their games to either.”
Miller reserved praise for the impact made by Kevin Pietersen since his appointment as captain early last month, England having won all five of their completed games under the new skipper.
“It looks very effervescent, that’s for sure, on the field,” Miller said. “There’s a confidence there - you can see the way they play.
“Against South Africa the confidence was oozing. It’s now a matter of keeping that momentum going and taking it further.”
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