England add uncapped pair to T20 squad

London: Hampshire batsman James Vince and Essex left-arm seamer Reece Topley were called up by England on Thursday for the one-off Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Old Trafford on June 23.

Vince, 24, and the 21-year-old Topley -- uncapped in any format -- are among five players in the 13-man squad who have yet to play a Twenty20 international, with the others being Sam Billings, David Willey and Mark Wood.

However, Billings, Willey and Wood have all been involved in the ongoing one-day international series against New Zealand which England levelled at 2-2, with one to play, following a thrilling seven-wicket win at Nottingham`s Trent Bridge ground on Wednesday.

Vince made his lone England appearance in the washed out ODI against Ireland in Dublin last month.

"This match against New Zealand allows us another opportunity to look at players relatively new to international cricket as we look to build a squad for the World T20 in India this winter," said national selector James Whitaker in an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.

"The squad is made up of players who have demonstrated their ability in domestic cricket and fully deserve a chance to continue their progress against a very good New Zealand side," the former England batsman added.

"We have already seen our limited overs cricket begin to move in the right direction which is exciting but we are all aware that we have plenty more to do if we are going to challenge the very best sides in the world on a regular basis," explained Whitaker, with England having suffered an embarrassing first-round exit at the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.

There was no place in the Twenty20 squad for either of Somerset`s Overton twins, Craig and Jamie, added to the ODI squad this week after injuries to all-rounder Chris Jordan and fast bowler Liam Plunkett.

Meanwhile middle-order batsman James Taylor, included in the ODI squad but yet to play in the New Zealand series, was absent from a Twenty20 party which will, as is the case with the 50-over side, be captained by Eoin Morgan.

The only time England have won an International Cricket Council limited overs competition was at the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

England and New Zealand`s one-day series decider takes place at Durham`s Chester-le-Street ground on Saturday.
England Twenty20 squad:

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wkt), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Essex), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Northamptonshire), Mark Wood (Durham)
Fixture:

June 23, Old Trafford: England v New Zealand (1730 GMT)