Big hitters axed from one-day squad

England ditched two heavyweight hitters today in a bid to sharpen up their one-day act.

Rob Key and Ian Blackwell are not among the game's quicker movers and both have been left out of a 14-man squad to play three limited-overs internationals against India next month, followed immediately by the Champions Trophy.

England's fielding was particularly poor during the mid-summer triangular tournament with not only the nimble New Zealanders but also the less athletic West Indians outshining them.

Now the selectors have made a point of trying to improve that side of the team's game by recalling Vikram Solanki for Key, Gareth Batty for Blackwell and also bringing back 23-year-old all-rounder Kabir Ali.

The three Worcestershire recruits will also give England more batting and bowling options. "We discussed at length the way we want to play and identified a need for more depth in our batting and an increase in mobility in our fielding," chairman of selectors David Graveney said.

England failed to reach the triangular tournament final. As a result, Key and Blackwell,who played five games between them but failed to manage even one score of 20, have been dropped, together with young Lancashire paceman Sajid Mahmood and Surrey all-rounder Rikki Clarke.

Batty gives England a second spinner, alongside Ashley Giles, and pace bowler Kabir is a handy lower order batsman.

But it is opener Solanki who could be first in line for a starting place next month with Vaughan - who failed five times at the top of the order against West Indies and New Zealand - eyeing a switch to No 4.