Twenty20 Finals Day

Cook and Strauss miss out for Finals Day

Cricinfo staff

July 22, 2008

A packed Rose Bowl will miss out on Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss for Twenty20 Finals Day this Saturday. England's opening pair were to do battle for Essex and Middlesex respectively, but have been told to rest ahead of the third Test against South Africa on Wednesday week.

"It was deemed after two tough Test matches that those players who played in both Tests will not be available," an England spokesman said.

In addition to earning the Twenty20 Cup crown on Saturday, England's top two Twenty20 sides will participate in the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League against other teams from Australia, India and South Africa. The winners will earn £2.5million.

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