England retains squad for final Test

After winning the second Test match at Old Trafford by six wickets, the England selectors have planned to stick with the same squad going into the final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge which starts on Thursday. England will now start the match with a 1-0 series lead over New Zealand and will be hoping to maintain or better that in the final Test in order to secure a series win.

In the second Test at Old Trafford, England was trailing by 179 runs at one stage but then came back to win the match thanks to some spectacular batting by Andrew Strauss and a good bowling spell by Monty Panesar.

Chris Tremlett retains his place in the squad as Matthew Hoggard is still nursing a broken thumb. Tremlett is still waiting for his chance to be in the thick of action as he has not played since his side’s final Test against India last summer.

National selector Geoff Miller was happy with the way his side performed against the Kiwis but said that there were still areas they could work on for the final Test. He added that if England wins at Trent Bridge, it will help them keep their momentum for the games ahead.

England squad: Michael Vaughan (capt), Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett