LONDON (Reuters) – Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar was handed a chance to resurrect his test career while Chris Tremlett could join a towering pace attack after both were named yesterday in England’s squad to tour Australia this year.
Panesar, whose last test was the first match of the 2009 Ashes series when his last-wicket stand with James Anderson helped secure an unlikely draw, got the nod as back-up spinner to Graeme Swann after “developing as a player and a person”, said national selector Geoff Miller.
Tall fast-medium bowler Tremlett, who played three tests in 2007, was preferred to Ajmal Shahzad after an impressive season for Surrey and Tim Bresnan was included for his bouncy fast-medium bowling and useful batting.
England’s first-choice bowling attack is likely to be Swann, Anderson, Steven Finn and Stuart Broad.
Steven Davies, who has enjoyed an impressive summer in the one-day side, was selected as wicketkeeping backup to Matt Prior while Kevin Pietersen, dropped for the one-day series against Pakistan, returns and will join the squad after playing for Natal in South Africa.
Andrew Strauss will captain the side with fellow opener Alastair Cook vice-captain of the 16-man squad.
A 16-man “performance programme squad” was also named yesterday to tour Australia, creating a ready-made supply of back-up players all playing competitive cricket.
The squads were announced on the ground where England secured the 2005 and 2009 Ashes with the new men given the task of making up for the 2007 whitewash and bidding to become the first England team to win a series in Australia since Mike Gatting’s 1986-87 side.
“It’s a solid squad and you have match-winners in there and there is no reason why we can’t retain the Ashes,” Miller told a news conference.
Panesar, a real fan favourite, lost his way last year as understanding of the game failed to match his undoubted ability to spin the ball. Famously described by Shane Warne as “not playing 33 tests but playing the same test 33 times”, Panesar seems to have moved on.
“Monty went away and developed his game again,” said Miller.
“He was having a bad time, we and he appreciated what he needed to do. He went to a new club and produced the goods.
“He’s setting his fields now and talking to his captain and his coach. He’s developed as a player and a person and now have two quality spinners.”
Tremlett, the son of Hampshire bowler and coach Tim and whose grandfather Maurice played for England, also saw a rapid improvement after switching counties.
“Chris has led the attack at Surrey, taken responsibility and bowled really well. The type of conditions he’ll get in Australia should suit him,” said Miller.
With Tremlett and Finn both measuring 2.021 metres and Broad only slightly shorter, England could field a giant pace attack.
“You would presume there will be some bouncy wickets over there so weve got cover in the bouncy areas but we also have people who can swing it,” Miller said.
Following the Pakistan spot-fixing controversy and England’s demand for an apology from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt, ECB managing director Hugh Morris said it was an ideal opportunity to move forward.
“We were extremely disappointed in the totally unfounded allegations so we are expecting an apology,” he said.
“But I think this is a really good opportunity to look forward. England against Australia are always fantastic matches and we are very much looking forward to going down there and making the back pages for absolutely the right reasons.”
The first test of the five-match series starts in Brisbane on November 25.
