WORCESTERSHIRE spinner Gareth Batty has retained his place in the England cricket squad for the forthcoming Test tour to the West Indies.
Chairman of selectors David Graveney was due to reveal the 16-man party yesterday lunchtime and put an end to the speculation which has grown since England beat a retreat from Sri Lanka.
But instead the selectors announced they would be delaying their announcement for 24 hours to make further checks on the fitness of several players whose selection may be regarded as a gamble.
Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones, sidelined for 14 months after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury during the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, is expected to be recalled after undergoing a gruelling fitness regime with the Academy at Loughborough.
Doubts remain about his fitness while Steve Harmison missed the recent tour to Sri Lanka with a side strain and James Anderson withdrew from the tour to Bangladesh and struggled with an ankle injury in Sri Lanka.
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