Paul Collingwood has been given the task of turning England's Twenty20 fortunes around after being convinced to return to the captaincy by new coach Andy Flower.

The 32-year-old flew back from South Africa this morning following an unsuccessful stint with Indian Premier League side the Dehli Daredevils, for whom he didn't play a single game, and will take the reins for this summer's ICC World Twenty20 competition following Test skipper Andrew Strauss's decision not to put himself in contention for the job.

Collingwood's last stint in charge of his country ended in disappointment when he stood down last summer after blaming the pressures of the limited-overs captaincy for his declining form in the Test arena.

After initially ruling out a u-turn, the Durham all-rounder has been persuaded to a change his mind by Flower, who Collingwood enjoys a far stronger relationship with than he did with previous coach Peter Moores.

He will take charge of a 15-man squad that also includes uncapped Middlesex batsman Eoin Morgan and Essex's big hitting all-rounder Graham Napier.

Collingwood said: “I am really excited about captaining this squad for the ICC World Twenty20, especially as it will be in front of our own fans.

“At the end of the recent Caribbean tour it was well known that I wanted some time to think it over but now I am looking forward to the tournament. We have a talented squad and there is the added incentive of a Lord's final.”

Andrew Flintoff has also been named just five days after undergoing surgery on a torn meniscus in his knee.

The Lancashire all-rounder is understood to be making a good recovery from his latest injury, sustained while playing in the IPL last week, but national selector Geoff Miller insists he will not be risked ahead of the Ashes unless he is fully fit.

Miller said: “We have picked Andrew but we will keep in constant touch with him and the medical team during his rehabilitation.

“He is passionate about playing in this event but he will only play in the ICC Twenty20 if he is fully recovered.”

With 159 one-day internationals and 15 Twenty20 internationals under his belt, Collingwood is one of England's most experienced limited-overs players, but still short of games in comparison with his counterparts in other countries.

He beats off competition from other candidates including Kent captain Rob Key, who selectors feared would not be a regular in the side.

Flintoff's chequered injury record and past misdemeanours as skipper stood against him, while Kevin Pietersen was reluctant to return to the position so soon after his acrimonious departure in January.

Key is still included in the squad along with Essex wicketkeeper James Foster, who returns to England colours for the first time in six years.

Foster has been rewarded for some outstanding domestic performances and got the nod over Matt Prior and Stephen Davies. There is also no room in the squad for Ian Bell or Samit Patel.

England play the Netherlands at Lord's in the opening game of the World Twenty20 on 5 June, desperate to avoid a repeat of the 2007 tournament in South Africa when they were knocked out in the group stages.

England's Twenty20 Cup squad

P Collingwood (capt)
J Anderson
R Bopara
S Broad
A Flintoff
J Foster
R Key
D Mascarenhas
E Morgan
G Napier
K Pietersen
O Shah
R Sidebottom
G Swann
L Wright