Anderson confirmed for England's Twenty20 squad

LONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters) England have been given the all-clear by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to replace the injured Ravi Bopara with fast bowler James Anderson at the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said yesterday that Anderson had been drafted in, pending ICC approval, after Bopara fractured his right thumb in last Sunday's one-day international against India at Headingley.

The 25-year-old Anderson, who was in action today in England's final one-day match against India, was due to fly to South Africa tomorrow.

He is the fourth replacement player to be called up for the tournament so far after Andre Nel was approved to replace Loots Bosman for South Africa, Dilruwan Perera was approved to replace Muttiah Muralitharan in the Sri Lanka squad and Ben Hilfenhaus was approved to replace Shaun Tait in the Australia squad.

The Twenty20 runs from September 11-24 with England's first match against Zimbabwe in Cape Town next Thursday.

REUTERS PDS KN2111