Broad, Collingwood back in England Test squad

July 25, 2010 08:18 pm | Updated August 01, 2010 09:47 pm IST - LONDON England squad

England included star batsman Kevin Pietersen despite his lack of recent match practice and recalled Stuart Broad and Paul Collingwood to its 12-man squad on Sunday for the first test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Limited-overs specialist Eoin Morgan was retained, giving him another chance to further his credentials in the five-day format ahead of the Ashes series against Australia later this year.

Pietersen has not played a match since July 3 due to a thigh injury and was this week denied valuable time in the middle by his county side Hampshire, who left him out of the team to play Kent in a one-day match after he said he would be leaving the club next season.

Pietersen, 30, is without a century in his past 12 tests — stretching back to March 2009 — and endured a lean run in one-day internationals this summer, averaging just 18.66 in six outings.

Paceman Broad and middle-order batsman Collingwood return after being rested for the test series against Bangladesh, which England won 2-0 earlier this summer.

Morgan, who made scores of 44 and 37 in his first two tests, was picked ahead of resurgent Essex batsman Ravi Bopara, while Ian Bell could not be considered after breaking a bone in his foot earlier this month.

“Bopara has been playing really well but we want to see a bit more from Eoin. He played well for Middlesex in his last game,” national selector Geoff Miller told BBC Radio Five Live.

“Yes, we want to win this match and win this series but we have an eye on the winter as well and we have got to make sure that the equation is sorted, so Eoin keeps his place.”

Fast bowlers Steven Finn and Ajmal Shahzad also were kept on by selectors, but all-rounder Tim Bresnan and spinner James Tredwell were overlooked.

“We have continued with Ajmal Shahzad, who is bowling really well, and Steven Finn comes back after his strengthening programme and I’m sure he will be keen to continue the good form he has shown,” Miller said.

The four-Test series against Pakistan, which begins with the opening match in Nottingham starting on Thursday, is England’s last before the team begins its defence of the Ashes in November.

Pakistan drew its series with Australia 1-1 after defeating Ricky Ponting’s men by three wickets in the second Test at Leeds on Saturday.

“There are a lot of people knocking on the door. We wanted strength in depth and gradually we are getting that,” Miller said. “We feel this is the right side to take on a Pakistan side who are fairly buoyant now after beating Australia.”

Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wicketkeeper), Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Ajmal Shahzad.

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