Collingwood gets England captaincy

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LONDON, England -- Paul Collingwood will lead a new-look England squad for the one-day international and Twenty20 series against the West Indies.

The Durham all-rounder was confirmed in the job as England captain in the shorter form of the game on Friday.

He succeeds Michael Vaughan, who stood down as one-day captain on Monday, but will continue to be in charge in Test matches.

Collingwood, 31, was handed the reins after the only other outstanding candidate Kevin Pietersen withdrew his interest earlier in the week.

"The selectors believe that Paul's experience and performances in the one-day game make him the ideal candidate to lead the side," explained chairman of selectors David Graveney.

"He has been a key member of the one-day team for a while and we believe he is ready to take on the additional responsibility of captaincy."

Collingwood, who hit 128 for England's test side at Durham on Monday against West Indies, told a news conference on Sky Sports News: "As you can probably tell by the smile on my face, it's an absolutely amazing feeling. A great honor.

"To have a home test match and get a century, to end the week with the captaincy, and Durham to getting to the final at Lord's, it's just a dream come true.

"We've played our best one-day cricket when we've been aggressive, taken the attack to the opposition, been positive when we go out to bat and had plenty of self-belief," he said.

"One thing's for sure, I'll be allowing the players to go out there and express themselves. That's when you play your best cricket."

Hampshire all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas and Warwickshire's South African-born Jonathan Trott are both named in an England set-up for the first time as the selectors look to rebuild after a disappointing World Cup.

Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom is recalled six years after playing his two previous one-day internationals, having impressed during the recent Test series victory over West Indies by claiming 16 wickets.

He has also been rewarded by being added to the England Performance squad alongside Trot

Of the 15 players from England's World Cup squad, only seven made the 14-man group for the matches against West Indies.

Paul Nixon, Ed Joyce, Andrew Strauss, Jamie Dalrymple and Vaughan are left out with paceman Sajid Mahmood and all-rounders Andrew Flintoff and Ravi Bopara sidelined by injury.

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Collingwood will be leading England into a new one-day era.

Collingwood gets England captaincy

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