Test Squad and Performance Programme Squad announced
Prior, Shah and Swann win places in England’s Test squad for India
The England selectors today named a 15-man squad under the captaincy of Kevin Pietersen for the two-Test series in India this December.
The selectors also announced a 15-man England Performance Programme squad to tour India in November and December, and a seven-man squad for the Hong Kong VI’s competition to be led by Dimitri Mascarenhas.
Nottinghamshire off-spinner Graeme Swann is the only uncapped player in the Test squad which also includes the recalled Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman, Matt Prior, and the Middlesex batsman Owais Shah.
England Test Squad in India
- Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire) captain
- Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire)
- James Anderson (Lancashire)
- Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
- Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
- Paul Collingwood (Durham)
- Alastair Cook (Essex)
- Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)
- Stephen Harmison (Durham)
- Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire)
- Matt Prior (Sussex)
- Owais Shah (Middlesex)
- Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
14 Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) - Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
National Selector, Geoff Miller, said: “Our decision to pick Owais Shah was based on the fact that he is an excellent player of spin who played a superb innings in India on his Test debut two years ago. It’s a further opportunity for him to build on his success with the One-Day side this year and his inclusion in the squad will create real competition for places within the batting unit.
“Matt Prior has enjoyed an impressive domestic season with Sussex and having re-established himself in the England One-Day side, he will now compete with Tim Ambrose for the position of Test wicket-keeper. Matt remains our first choice keeper in the One-Day game, but Tim will join the One-Day squad in India as reserve wicket-keeper for the duration of the One-Day Series.
“The inclusion of Graeme Swann as off spinner provides us with a right-arm/left arm slow bowling combination which we believe can be effective in India Graeme has bowled well in tandem with Monty Panesar when they were at Northamptonshire together and he will be keen to renew the partnership this winter.”
Commenting on the selection of the England Performance Programme squad, ECB Performance Director, David Parsons, said: “This winter’s programme, both at the National Cricket Performance Centre and on tour in India, is designed to help us identify those players who can perform successfully for England at international level. Touring India will provide the players with an opportunity to learn more about the challenges of playing on the sub-continent as well as providing our Test and One-Day squads with stand-by players in case of injury. “
England Test squad itinerary.
Weds Dec 3 – Travel from Delhi to Baroda
Thurs Dec 4 - Practice
Fri Dec 5 to Sun Dec 7 – Three day game in Baroda
Mon Dec 8 – Travel to Ahmedabad
Tues Dec 9 – Practice
Weds Dec 10 – Practice
Thurs Dec 11 – Mon Dec 15- 1st Test in Ahmedabad
Tues Dec 16 – Travel to Mumbai
Weds Dec 17 – Practice
Thurs Dec 18 – Practice
Fri Dec 19 – Tues Dec 23 – 2nd Test in Mumbai
Weds Dec 24 – Return to UK
England Performance Programme Squad
- Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
- Mark Davies (Durham)
- Steven Davies (Worcestershire)
- Joe Denly (Kent)
- Robbie Joseph (Kent)
- Robert Key (|Kent)
- Amjad Khan (Kent)
- Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire)
- Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
- Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
- Stephen Moore (Worcestershire)
- Liam Plunkett (Durham)
13 . Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
14 . Ollie Rayner (Sussex)
15 . Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
England Performance Programme
Schedule:
Friday, Nov 21 – depart UK for Bangalore
Sat Nov 22 – Sat Nov 29 – Training/Match Preparation
Sun 30 Nov – Tues Dec – Three day match in Bangalore
Weds Dec 3 – Travel to Mumbai
Thurs Dec 4 to Weds Dec 10 – Training/Match Preparation in Mumbai
Thurs Dec 11 to Sun Dec 14 – Four day match in Mumbai
Mon 15- Tues16 Dec –Rest and training
Weds 17 – Thurs 18 Dec – Training with England Test squad
Friday 19 Dec – Return to UK
England’s squad for the Hong Kong VI’s competition
November 8/9 in Hong Kong
Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire) captain
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Ed Joyce (Middlesex)
Darren Maddy (Warwickshire)
Graham Napier (Essex)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Graham Wagg (Derbyshire)