Wright handed pinch-hitting role

Luke Wright is set to open the batting in the NatWest Series © Getty Images

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Luke Wright has been given the chance to become England’s new pinch-hitter after being given a licence to thrill during the forthcoming one-day series against New Zealand.

The Sussex all-rounder has been chosen as the new opening partner for the more composed Alastair Cook following the decision to leave out wicketkeeper Phil Mustard for NatWest Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals which follow against the tourists.

Mustard has been replaced by Warwickshire’s Tim Ambrose, who will bat further down the order and allow Wright to use his attacking instincts as an opener to exploit the fielding restrictions during the early overs.

“Luke will be opening for us because every time he’s been given the opportunity and had to step up to the plate in a big match he’s done well,” explained national selector Geoff Miller.

“We’re aware we need to take advantage of the fielding restrictions and we believe Luke is the exciting type of cricketer to do well in that position.

“Whether he is playing for Sussex or England, he seems to like the big occasion and there are big possibilities for him if he continues developing.”

Wright’s biggest successes for England have so far been down the order – he got a duck the only previous time he opened in a one-day international – but the selectors are convinced he can provide the impetus during the early part of the innings.

While Wright can look forward to the start of the one-day series, which begins with the Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on June 13, Ambrose now has the opportunity to establish himself as the number one wicketkeeper in all forms of cricket.

Tim Ambrose is hopeing to avoid his Trent Bridge injury jinx ahead of the third npower Test there

But to do that he must first get on the field next week in the final npower Test at Trent Bridge, which has not been the most successful of grounds for him in the past.

“Trent Bridge has been a bit of a jinx ground for me,” revealed Ambrose, who is expected to be named in an unchanged Test squad.

“I haven’t actually played a first-class match there because every season we’ve had a game there I’ve had to pull out with a niggle.

“I think that’s happened three times to me, but hopefully that’s not an omen for anything to happen to me before next Thursday.”

“Wicketkeeping-wise every ground offers a different challenge but it’s also the same job. We’ve got a few days’ preparation there and to test things out to see if there is a wobble in the air, which there can often be when they put new stands at grounds.

“Looking at the scores there recently they have represented the fact the ball does swing around there.

“We’re going into it knowing we’re going to have to be tight in our disciplines and if the pitch does a little bit we’re going to have to adapt to that.”