England stormed into the final of the ICC World Twenty20 with a crushing seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka at Beausejour Stadium.

Michael Lumb is the only uncapped player in a 27-man Performance Squad named by the England and Wales Cricket Board today.

Spot the difference. "The selectors have had to make some tough decisions, young academy graduates all seized their chances, a couple of senior players have missed out." And then: "We've picked a balanced squad that can meet the needs of the Twenty20 format: aggressive batting with variation and strength in depth, and various bowling options that accommodate the conditions and surfaces in the West Indies." The first are paraphrased comments from Clare Connor about the England Women's squad which will defend their World Twenty20 title in the West Indies. They went on a tour of India where some young players had the chance of full international competition, took it and have kept out more senior players seeking a return. The second is from the National Selector of the England men's team, Geoff Miller, in putting his stamp of approval on the England men's team. It contains three players never before capped in the T20 format, an admission if ever there was one that up until the tournament itself, selection had simply been wrong. Why they should have got it right now is difficult to judge considering the appalling track record. Michael Lumb is the latest to be called up as a catch-all opener, in the footsteps of such discards as Vikram Solanki, Darren Maddy, Joe Denly, Matt Prior and Luke Wright to name but a handful. It's possible they have landed on a correct combination, but impossible that this has come about through careful planning rather than blind panic.

England are likely to find themselves with more fast bowlers than they need after their injury load appeared to ease yesterday. About twice as many in a country where spin is king – or at least the crown prince.

Craig Kieswetter delivered a maiden international century as England completed a series whitewash over Bangladesh with a 45-run win in the third one-day international.

Eoin Morgan produced a century of consummate class to prevent England slipping to a first ever defeat against Bangladesh and clinch the one-day international series in the process.

Wherever Luke Wright goes he is followed by a ray of sunshine. He is a cricketer who exudes happiness in his approach. He likes playing, it shows every time he steps on to the field, in every discipline he undertakes, and for that reason the desire for him to succeed is heightened.

England today completed a second comfortable win over a BCB XI in Fatullah, with half-centuries for captain Alastair Cook and Matt Prior seeing the tourists home after a disciplined display in the field.

Craig Kieswetter's rapid rise to prominence showed no sign of abating after he hit 143 on his first England appearance against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in Fatullah.

England predictably named an unchanged team for the second Test against South Africa at Kingsmead this morning.

England retain full confidence in their extra batsman Ian Bell, despite his double failure in the first Test.