Test wicketkeeper Ambrose called up to England one-day squad

Warwickshire's Ambrose, who has played the last five Tests since taking over from Matt Prior during the winter, was the only uncapped player named in a 14-man squad today to compete against New Zealand in one Twenty20 international and five one-day internationals.

Safe pair of hands: England's Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood celebrate with Tim Ambrose (centre) after he caught out New Zealand's Jacob Oram for 6 runs during the Second Test

Ambrose replaces Phil Mustard, who averaged just 22.8 in the 10 one-day internationals he played during the winter and scored only one half-century.

Mustard and Kent off-spinner James Tredwell are the only members of the squad who lost 3-1 in New Zealand during the winter to miss out with the remainder of that party retaining their places.

"In choosing these players, we were keen to show consistency with the nucleus of the squad from the winter and give further opportunities to individuals who we feel are likely to be an important part of our plans as we build towards the ICC World Twenty20 event in England next summer and the next ICC Cricket World Cup," explained National Selector Geoff Miller.

"Tim Ambrose has already shown that he has the temperament and the ability required to succeed in Test cricket and his selection reflects our desire to use the same wicketkeeper in both the long and short forms of the game.

"Phil Mustard will, of course, be disappointed not to have been selected on this occasion but he remains a player of terrific potential and we will continue to monitor his performances closely along with a number of other wicketkeepers in domestic cricket.

"We're aware of the need to identify a player who can take over the opener's role from Phil and play in a positive manner at the start of the innings.

"We do have a number of options available within the squad and we will make a final decision as to who will fulfil this role once we have had further discussions with the captain and coach prior to the start of the series."

Road to recovery: Andrew Flintoff is recovering from a side strain

Today's selection is something of a surprise with Ambrose struggling for runs during the current Test series against New Zealand - he has scored only three in two innings - while Prior is currently the leading run scorer in championship cricket and would solve England's dilemma over who should open.

The selectors also discounted all-rounder Andrew Flintoff from their selection plans because he is only halfway through a six-week rehabilitation programme after suffering a side strain.

Providing his recovery schedule remains on course, Flintoff would have been available for the last two one-day internationals in the series, but he will not have played any competitive cricket for six weeks and England would prefer him to get match practice with Lancashire before the start of the Test series against South Africa.

"Andrew is still recovering from a side strain and we would prefer to wait until he is 100 per cent fit before considering him for selection," added Miller.

"We will be guided by the England medical team as to when the best time would be for him to return to international cricket. His rehabilitation is progressing well at present and we are optimistic that he will be available for selection later in the summer."

England's squad to face New Zealand in the Twenty20 match on June 13 at Old Trafford and the one-day series, beginning on June 15 in Durham.

PD Collingwood (Durham, capt) Age 32 Caps 141, AN Cook (Essex) 23 21, TR Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt) 25 0, IR Bell (Warwickshire) 26 64, KP Pietersen (Hampshire) 25 69, OA Shah (Middlesex) 29 35, LJ Wright (Sussex) 23 5, RS Bopara (Essex) 23 21, AD Mascarenhas (Hampshire) 30 10, SC Broad (Nottinghamshire) 21 26, RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire) 30 13, JM Anderson (Lancashire) 25 86, GP Swann (Nottinghamshire) 29 7, CT Tremlett (Hampshire) 26 8.