CHITTAGONG – England captain Andrew Strauss is staying tight-lipped over his new opening partner for the World Cup clash against Bangladesh amid growing speculation over who it will be.
Strauss needs a new partner for the rest of the tournament after Kevin Pietersen, who had opened in the first four matches, returned home to undergo hernia surgery. “I am very clear in my mind who will open, but will not say before the game has started,” Strauss said ahead of Friday’s day-night game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong. “We are not nailed on playing the same combination all through. There is no reason why we can’t change.”
The choice is likely to be limited to Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara or wicket-keeper Matt Prior, who are all essentially middle-order batsmen but capable of having a hit at the start. Strauss also refused to comment on speculation that England will play a third slow bowler in off-spinner James Tredwell to partner Graeme Swann and left-armer Michael Yardy.
