England names Ashes squad - Monty makes a comeback

[Sir john]

England will reveal their Ashes squad on Thursday afternoon as everyone tries to move on as quickly as possible from the scandal-ridden visit of Pakistan. Often Ashes hype can become tiresome, but given the controversies of the last few weeks there is nothing people would like to talk about more. However, for all the interest surrounding the 16 names that will fly to Perth on October 29 there are going to be very few surprises from the selectors. At least 14 of them are inked in with just the final paceman and second spinner the positions carrying a question mark. It's a far cry from picking Ashes squads of the 1990s when selectors were often pulling last-minute names out of the hat based on a few late-season performances. The current regime of Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower, along with national selector Geoff Miller, have been clear in their planning throughout the summer, hence their decision to stick with four frontline bowlers which will now be the approach for Brisbane. The only time they diverted from Plan A was the resting of Paul Collingwood and Stuart Broad for the Bangladesh series at the start of the summer and Ian Bell's injury which ruled him out of the Pakistan Test series. Eoin Morgan was the batsman to benefit and, despite fading against Pakistan following his debut hundred at Trent Bridge, will be one of seven batsmen in the squad although is likely to be pushed aside by Bell for the first Test. Paul Collingwood is facing a vital series because, at 34, it could be his final Ashes while all eyes will be on Kevin Pietersen who will warm up with a two-week stint for the Dolphins in South Africa. With the batting sorted, and Steve Davies' successful return to the one-day side making him the logical understudy to Matt Prior, it's just the final two bowling slots that are awaited. James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann are the first-choice attack, while Ajmal Shahzad has done enough with his displays of reverse swing to be in the squad. Graham Onions and Ryan Sidebottom would usually have come under consideration, but Onions is facing a career-threatening back injury and Sidebottom, somewhat surprisingly, announced his international retirement three days ago. Tim Bresnan has been part of the Team England bubble for the last 12 months across all formats and Flower puts great emphasis on the strong bond the squad have built up in recent times. Therefore, Bresnan is probably squeezing into the final 16 - he also provides allrounder cover should Broad suffer an injury. However, the selectors could pull out the closest they'll come to a wildcard and recall Chris Tremlett, who enjoyed a resurgent season with Surrey taking 48 Championship scalps at 20.18. Six weeks ago he was in prime form and although he tailed off towards the end of the summer he has earned good reviews. He'll have to convince the selectors he has the ticker for an Ashes tour; four years ago his game fell apart during the one-day leg of the tour, but his height will be a very temping quality to have in reserve. Then it's down to the second spinner. So strongly are England's Ashes plans built around Swann - both his ability to take wickets and contain which allows them to play just four bowlers - that an injury to him would be a horrendous blow. However, tours to Australia are known for throwing such spanners in the works. There are three men in contention to be Swann's No. 2. James Tredwell, who did the job in Bangladesh and made his Test debut in Dhaka, Adil Rashid after an impressive season with Yorkshire which brought 732 runs at 45.75 alongside 57 wickets at 31.29 and Monty Panesar who took 52 Championship wickets at 25.53 for Sussex. All three will be in Australia because the Performance Squad will be based in Brisbane and Perth concurrently with the main party, but the one who makes the main 16 will give an insight into England's thinking. If Swann is injured before a Test then it would be a huge ask for Rashid to make a Test debut, while Tredwell is an honest bowler but not a matchwinner. Despite his difficult two years, Panesar remains the one with the best chance of troubling Australia. However, if England divert from their standard gameplan and play two spinners - most likely at Sydney, although it's not the raging turner it once was - then Rashid is the best option because he can bat at seven or eight alongside Broad to balance the side. The Performance Squad could also include the likes of Adam Lyth, Michael Carberry, Ravi Bopara and James Hildreth as batting cover, Craig Kieswetter for the wicketkeeper and Tremlett if he doesn't make the lead group. But once the 16 are named, Flower and Strauss will hope they are the players to keep hold of the Ashes. Probable Ashes squad Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Steve Davies, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Ajmal Shahzad, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Monty Panesar hope monty get selected.:pray:

Ashes squad Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Steve Davies, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar Performance squad Jimmy Adams, Jonny Bairstow, Danny Briggs, Michael Carberry, Maurice Chambers, Jade Dernbach, Andrew Gale, James Hildreth, Craig Kieswetter, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett, Ajmal Shahzad, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes Central contracts Andrew Strauss, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott Incremental contracts Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy

[Gunner_Mania]

They are doing live relay of the announcement of the English squad selected for the Ashes tour on SSN. Fultoo Multimedia presentation on the big screen, background score, each individual players' selected stats. What build up.

[Gunner_Mania]

Monty has been picked.

[EnterTheVoid]

We are winning this. England got no chance.

[ravishingravi]

Aussies are going to slaughter them. Dont matter who they pick

[Gunner_Mania]

Andrew Strauss Alastair Cook James Anderson Ian Bell Tim Bresnan Stuart Broad Paul Collingwood Steven Davies (wkt) Steven Finn Eoin Morgan Monty Panesar Kevin Pietersen Matt Prior (wkt) Graeme Swann Chris Tremlett Jonathan Trott

[Serani]

No carbs....

[Gunner_Mania]

Carbs is in the Performance Enhancing...or whatever it is called squad.

[Chandan]

Where is Vortex? Does he still think that that the English attack is the best in the world right now? I think these bowlers will be slaughtered in Australia. And why did they go for Tremlett? Why not choose Shahzad instead? What do you guys think?

[Sachinism]

Monty :hehe:

[Guest Hiten.]

Where is Vortex? Does he still think that that the English attack is the best in the world right now? I think these bowlers will be slaughtered in Australia. And why did they go for Tremlett? Why not choose Shahzad instead? What do you guys think?

That was my first impression, a weak bowling attack. I don't think England stands a chance against the Aussies given how fragile and one dimensional their attack would be. Anderson would be totally ineffective as he won't be able to bring in the English conditions along with him to 'strya. Although I'd say England have a stronger batting attack than the Australians do. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be as one sided contest as the last time England visited Australia. Oh and they had NO business picking Monty. He has no guile whatsoever and is pretty much rich man's sarandeep singh :giggle:.

[Gunner_Mania]

Where is Vortex? Does he still think that that the English attack is the best in the world right now? I think these bowlers will be slaughtered in Australia. And why did they go for Tremlett? Why not choose Shahzad instead? What do you guys think?

Both have been rewarded for strong domestic campaigns after moving counties, Tremlett picked up 48 wickets in Division Two of the LV County Championship and Panesar 52. Shazad is also going to be in Australa as part of the Performance programme and somebody they could call in as a replacement in case of injuries. I think the team that played this summer picked up itself. The only 2 addition Tremlett & Panesar have been reqarded for their county performances this season.

[Cricketics]

I would like to see Monty and Swann in tandem. Should be fun to see both on at the same time.

[cowboysfan]

surely they could find a better backup for swann than monty!!.i wonder about that asian kid they tried a few months back.

[putrevus]

They might not have best bowling attack in the world but they sure have best spinner in world in Swann.

[cowboysfan]

I would like to see Monty and Swann in tandem. Should be fun to see both on at the same time.

already seen that.monty is ruined ,he tried to learn new stuff but he has lost it.

[Cricketics]

already seen that.monty is ruined ' date='he tried to learn new stuff but he has lost it.[/quote'] Don't mind seeing him in Aus. DOn't know how good would swann be. Man Australia doesn't look world beaters this time and England don't look bad too. Can't wait for this series to start. Shoiuld be cracking stuff.

[Sir john]

desi and sree should cheers monty in england.:--D

[VRV Singh]

On the whole it's a good squad. I don't rate Bresnan but he'll be backup to Anderson/Broad/Finn I believe so it's nothing major. They have to hope Cookie doesn't crumble too.

[b555]

i dont think panesar would be given any chance unless swann uutterly fails or they want to get intot he match with 2 spinners