England recall Panesar and Tremlett for Ashes

England recalled spinner Monty Panesar and fast bowler Chris Tremlett when they named a 16-man squad for their defence of the Ashes in Australia here on Thursday.

Left-arm spinner Panesar, one of the few successes of England's last tour of Australia, which saw them lose the Ashes 5-0 in 2006/07, has not played a Test since featuring in last year's Ashes opener in Cardiff where his tailend batting helped England to an unlikely draw.

Since that match Panesar, 28, a veteran of 39 Tests, has been replaced as England's frontline specialist spinner by off-break bowler Graeme Swann. Panesar, who moved from Northamptonshire to Sussex at the start of the season, is now set to travel to Australia as Swann's deputy having taken 52 first-class wickets at 25.69 apiece in 16 matches this season.

Tremlett played the last of his three Tests in 2007 but has won also won selection on the back of a successful move, having led Surrey's attack with 48 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 20.18 after joining from Hampshire.

His inclusion, along with fellow 6ft 7in seamer Steven Finn and the nearly as tall Stuart Broad, suggest England are looking to get the most they can out of the generally bouncier pitches in Australia.

Tremlett beat Ajmal Shahzad to a place in the main squad but the Yorkshire seamer is in a 16-man 'shadow' performance squad that will be in Australia in the lead-up to the first Test in Brisbane starting on November 25.

"The sort of conditions he (Tremlett) will get in Australia should suit him," said England national selector Geoff Miller.

Steven Davies edged out World Twenty20 winner Craig Kieswetter as the back-up wicketkeeper behind Matt Prior.

Otherwise the squad, to be captained by Andrew Strauss, was as expected with batsman Kevin Pietersen recalled after being omitted from the recent one-day series wins over Pakistan because of a poor run of form.

LONDON, AFP