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England selectors stick rather than twist for Champions Trophy challenge | Vic Marks

Unlike before the disastrous 2015 World Cup, the selectors are keeping to their long-term plans which means no place for Stuart Broad or Lancashire’s exciting Liam LivingstoneThe England one-day squads announced by the national selector, James Whitaker, at Edgbaston took no one by surprise, which is probably a good thing. Just before the 2015 World Cup this same group of selectors jettisoned their captain, Alastair Cook, leaving Eoin Morgan in a particularly nasty lurch and then summoned up Gary Ballance as a potential No3. Whereupon England performed as tepidly as a cup of tea that had been ignored for 20 minutes before slinking home in disgrace, without even reaching the quarter-finals.This time they are sticking solidly to plan A. Morgan...

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England rarely tested in West Indies but Champions Trophy plans crystallise | Ali Martin

England backed their first-choice players in search of a whitewash and are not about to rip up a successful blueprint as they chase a maiden global 50-over titleEngland depart the Caribbean with a largely unruffled 3-0 win over West Indies tucked in the back pocket and while, like the Roman soldiers in Monty Python’s Life of Brian proudly holding up a spoon, they may have unearthed few discoveries, the tour has returned the side to winning ways after India and means plans for June’s Champions Trophy have crystallised a touch more.Ripping up the blueprint before a global tournament has been an English tradition (only once, in the 2010 World Twenty20, did that not end in tears) but the captain, Eoin...

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