Thursday, April 05, 2007

England's Lewis departs World Cup

Jon Lewis will be replaced in the squad by Stuart Broad
Jon Lewis will be replaced in the World Cup squad by Stuart Broad
England and Gloucestershire seamer Jon Lewis is to return home from the World Cup for personal reasons.

Young Leicestershire pace bowler Stuart Broad, 20, has been given permission to replace him in the squad for the remainder of the tournament.

Lewis, 31, has not played in any World Cup matches, but is returning to be with his wife who has been experiencing complications with her pregnancy.

The ICC technical committee has approved his replacement by Broad.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "We fully understand Jon's need to be with his wife at this time and we are grateful to the technical committee for approving our request for a replacement player.

"Stuart performed well with the Academy squad in Australia and on the recent England A tour of Bangladesh, and I am sure he will be thrilled to be joining up with the squad in the Caribbean."

Lewis had not featured in the tournament, despite taking the new ball in a warm-up game against Australia.

Broad made his England debut against Pakistan in a Twenty20 international last summer, and went on to make five ODI appearances against them.

He was left out of the party for October's Champions Trophy, but then called into England's one-day squad in Australia, ironically as a replacement for the injured Lewis.

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