England announce India Test squad

Geoff Miller speaks to ECBtv about the squad selection - watch the video now

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 Sixes 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

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)
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 wicketkeeper. Matt remains our first choice 'keeper in the one-day game, but Tim will join the one-day squad in India as reserve wicketkeeper for the duration of the one-day series.

Matt Prior is recalled to the England Test squad on the back of his fine performances this season

"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 subcontinent as well as providing our Test and one-day squads with standby players in case of injury."

England Test squad itinerary

Dec 3: Travel from Delhi to Baroda
Dec 4: Practice
Dec 5-7: Three-day game, Baroda
Dec 8: Travel to Ahmedabad
Dec 9: Practice
Dec 10: Practice
Dec 11-15: 1st Test, Ahmedabad
Dec 16: Travel to Mumbai
Dec 17: Practice
Dec 18: Practice
Dec 19-23: 2nd Test, Mumbai
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)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Ollie Rayner (Sussex)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)

England Performance Programme schedule

Nov 21: Depart UK for Bangalore
Nov 22-29: Training/match preparation
Nov 30–Dec 2: Three-day match, Bangalore
Wed Dec 3: Travel to Mumbai
Dec 4-10: Training/match preparation, Mumbai
Dec 11-14: Four-day match, Mumbai
Dec 15-16: Rest and training
Dec 17-18: Training with England Test squad
Dec 19: Return to UK

England squad for the Hong Kong Sixes competition (November 8 & 9)

Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire, captain)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Ed Joyce (Middlesex)
Darren Maddy (Warwickshire)
Graham Napier (Essex)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Graham Wagg (Derbyshire)