White's fine form earns place on Sri Lanka trip

Selectors turn to Yorkshire's revitalised all-rounder for ICC Champions Trophy as England build for World Cup

Yorkshire's Craig White is currently having a fine time of it. After spending the first half of this season playing solely for his county and contemplating whether he would ever return to the big stage, White's selection in England's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka puts him right back in the thick of it.

The Yorkshire all-rounder was the only surprise addition to an England one-day squad that is beginning to acquire a settled appearance as February's World Cup draws closer. With the selectors hoping to use September's tournament as an opportunity for Nasser Hussain and Duncan Fletcher to further plan for the World Cup, it would be safe to say that the 14 chosen for this competition will be as close as damn it to the 15 that travel to South Africa.

For White the good news of the last two weeks – in which on his Test recall he played a key role in England's 170-run victory over India at Lord's, and on Sunday almost single-handedly guided Yorkshire to the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy final – has been quite a turnaround, because the view in April, on his return from a disappointing tour of New Zealand, was that his days as an international cricketer were numbered.

While White's form in the County Championship has been ordinary, he has excelled for Yorkshire in one-day cricket, scoring more than 700 runs at an average of 44 and taking 25 wickets at 19.8. Opening the batting and scoring at almost a run a ball, he gives England another game plan should they wish.

White replaces Alex Tudor, but the Surrey all-rounder should not give up hope of getting to South Africa or even Sri Lanka. With England's bowlers falling like dominoes and this squad containing two with long term injuries, there could easily be a late call-up for someone who remains fit for the rest of the season.

"We do currently have injury concerns with Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough and Marcus Trescothick – and will monitor their situation in the run up to the tournament," confirmed David Graveney, the Chairman of selectors.

"At this stage we expect them to be fit and there is no question of us sending an under-strength team to compete in this tournament because we regard it as an important part of our preparation for the World Cup."

With England playing their first game in Sri Lanka on 18 September, only nine days after the fourth Test against India at The Oval, and then travelling to Australia for the Ashes on 16 October, Hussain's side are currently in the middle of one of the busiest schedules the national side has ever experienced.

It has been suggested that members of both the Test and one-day squads this summer should miss the Champions Trophy to rest before the winter. Hussain, though, appears to want none of this and will demand the same from himself as everyone else – just as he will this week at Trent Bridge against India, when England will seek their fourth Test win in a row.

ENGLAND SQUAD FOR ICC CHAMPIONS' TROPHY: N Hussain (Essex, capt), age 34/caps 72; M E Trescothick (Somerset) 26/43; N V Knight (Warwickshire) 32/83; M P Vaughan (Yorkshire) 27/17; P D Collingwood (Durham) 26/25; A Flintoff (Lancashire) 24/46; R C Irani (Essex) 30/17; A J Stewart (Surrey, wkt) 39/153; C White (Yorkshire) 32/44; A F Giles (Warwickshire) 29/21; J N Snape (Gloucestershire) 29/7; A R Caddick (Somerset) 33/39; D Gough (Yorkshire) 31/111; M J Hoggard (Yorkshire) 25/16.