Strauss called up again

Andrew Strauss is making his way to Bristol for the third ODI © Getty Images

Andrew Strauss has been added to England’s squad for tomorrow’s third match in the NatWest Series against New Zealand.

The Middlesex left-hander joins the squad in Bristol today as cover for Alastair Cook, who is yet to recover from a shoulder injury.

Cook is yet to feature in any of England’s one-day matches this summer after injuring his shoulder during the final Test and had an injection yesterday in an attempt to speed up his recovery.

It is the third time in as many matches that Strauss has been called into the squad as cover for Cook, who has already been ruled out of tomorrow’s match.

Cook will be re-assessed by medical staff on Monday with a view to him playing in the fourth match of the series at The Brit Oval on Wednesday.

England are also monitoring the fitness of left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom at training this morning after he was had an injection for a stiff back, which ruled him out of Wednesday’s match at Edgbaston.

Sidebottom will be put through his paces this morning in Bristol and he if fails to recover, the selectors may consider calling in another bowler to the squad as cover for tomorrow’s match.