England recall Bell and Sidebottom

10 May 2009

Ian Bell is rewarded for his excellent early-season form for Warwickshire by a recall for the second Test at the Riverside

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Ian Bell and Ryan Sidebottom have been recalled to England's 13-man squad for the second npower Test match against West Indies, starting at Chester-le-Street on Thursday.

Bell and Sidebottom are the only additions to the side which beat West Indies by 10 wickets at Lord's in the first npower Test match.

National Selector Geoff Miller said: "Both Bell and Sidebottom have been in form in the early part of the season and have been a part of the England set up in recent years.

"Ryan Sidebottom has recovered from surgery after the Caribbean tour and reports that he is now bowling pain free.

"The inclusion of Bell and Sidebottom in the squad gives the selectors, the coach and the captain several options going into this game.

"Monty Panesar is unlucky but it was always highly unlikely that we would play two spinners at Chester-le-Street."

Bell has chosen to play for Warwickshire in their Friends Provident Trophy match versus Kent at Canterbury on Sunday.

England squad for the second npower Test match against West Indies at Chester-le-Street (May 14-18):

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex, captain)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)