his one-day call-upTIM Ambrose has been given the opportunity to establish himself as England's wicketkeeper in all formats of the game after a surprise call-up for the one-day series against New Zealand.

The 25-year-old wicketkeeper was the only uncapped player named in a 14-man squad by National Selector Geoff Miller today, who will compete in a Twenty20 international and five one-day internationals against the tourists starting in a fortnight.

Ambrose has been selected ahead of Durham's Phil Mustard, who averaged just 22.8 during the ten one-day internationals over the winter, while the impressive county form of Sussex's Matt Prior has also been overlooked.

He is expected to bat in the middle order with Sussex allrounder Luke Wright being identified as Mustard's replacement as a hard-hitting opener alongside the more considered style of Alastair Cook at the top of the order.

My goal at the start of the summer was to play in both formats so this is a good opportunity to establish myself,'' admitted Ambrose.

I've been playing for the last three or four seasons in the middle order and have been trying to learn how to play that style of the game.

I enjoy batting in that area of the innings. I think it's the toughest role to play in one-day cricket and it's a great challenge, but if it comes off towards the end of the innings whether you're setting or chasing it's a great feeling."

Ambrose's selection signals England's determination not to have separate wicketkeepers for the Test and one-day sides and he will take his place in a batting line-up designed to be more explosive than it was during the winter when they slipped to a 3- 1 series defeat in New Zealand.

Tim 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,'' explained Miller.

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.'' Prior has possibly the biggest reason to be dejected having worked hard throughout the winter on his wicketkeeping and his batting having been dropped after the Test series defeat in Sri Lanka before Christmas.

His hard work with mentor Alec Stewart on both parts of his game appeared to be paying off after a tremendous start to the season and is currently the leading run scorer in Championship cricket with 473 runs at an average of 67.

But, for the time being at least, England are to persevere with Ambrose despite his struggles with the bat during the current Test series against New Zealand having scored only three runs in his two innings so far.

It's a bit difficult to tell how I'm batting at the moment because I've only had a couple of knocks in the last few weeks,'' explained Ambrose.

I think I've only had four proper, long knocks all season in the longer format so it's difficult to know where you are. I think I'm hitting it pretty well at the moment and it's just a question of getting in and spending a little bit of time at the crease and let my game come out.'' While Ambrose is set to settle into the one-day side as part of the middle order, the top order is set for a major reshuffle with Wright chosen to open the innings despite suffering a duck in his only previous oneday international in that position.

But his attacking strokeplay down the order has convinced England he is worth another look as an opener with Miller enthusing: Luke Wright is a very exciting cricketer and we're going to start with him.''