Steven Finn has been included in the England squad for the World Twenty20 to travel to India next month as he continues his recovery from the side strain that saw his tour to South Africa come to a premature end.

The Watford-born Middlesex fast bowler returned home at the end of last month after feeling discomfort during England’s series-clinching third Test victory and scans revealed he was suffering from a left side strain.

However, the former Parmiter’s School pupil is about to start bowling in the nets again and England head coach Trevor Bayliss said: “He’s coming along very well apparently.

“There was a chance he could have been available for the last Twenty20 match here [in South Africa]. But we decided ‘let’s not take too many chances and make sure he’s right for the World Cup’.”

The 26-year-old has played 21 Twenty20 internationals for England, taking 27 wickets at an average of 21.59.

Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson is the surprise inclusion in the 15-man squad, which begins its World Cup campaign in India against West Indies on March 16.

The full England squad is: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (capt),Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Hampshire), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Yorkshire).