England opt for Tremlett to disappoint Twittersphere

(GETTY IMAGES)

After allowing the Twittersphere to disappear up its own backside with all manner of nonsensical conspiracy theories, England's selectors finally opted for the routine yesterday. They called up Chris Tremlett to replace Stuart Broad in the World Cup squad.

Or rather he was probably summoned from his bedroom in the team hotel in Chittagong, since he has been with them since the start of the campaign. As soon as Broad was withdrawn because of a side strain, his fellow fast bowler, travelling reserve precisely because of such an eventuality, was the obvious alternative.

But the selectors chose to delay the formality and allowed compulsive Tweeters to act on their behalf for much of the morning. A theory which continued to gain credence was that Adil Rashid, the Yorkshire leg spinner, might be chosen because England were unhappy with the spin bowling depth here. It proved to be so much stuff and nonsense, but what fun it was for some while it lasted.

While Tremlett was already here, Eoin Morgan was able to familiarise himself with conditions for the first time yesterday after arriving from England the previous day. Morgan, selected instead of the injured Kevin Pietersen, was in bubbly mood and clearly expecting to be drafted straight into the side.

Morgan would have been in the original squad but a broken finger in the one-day series in Australia prevented his being picked.

He said: "It's my fourth time in Bangladesh and it's an exciting place to come and play cricket."

He expects to bat at No 5 and may well be granted his wish despite Ravi Bopara's form there on Sunday against South Africa.