England stick with Finn and Shahzad

25 July 2010

Ajmal Shahzad's performance on debut against Bangladesh earns him a place in the squad for this week's Pakistan Test

The England selectors today named a 12-man squad for the first npower Test against Pakistan commencing Thursday July 29 at Trent Bridge.

Middlesex seamer Steven Finn returns to the England squad following a successful npower Test series against Bangladesh, as does Yorkshire's Ajmal Shahzad, who is looking to build on his Test debut from the same series.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "We have picked a very strong squad for the first Test against a Pakistan side that will be high on confidence following their recent win against Australia.

"We've been encouraged by the form shown by a number of England players involved in LV= County Championship matches this week and those that are coming back from injury or rest, such as Kevin Pietersen, have been working very hard ahead of the first Test next week.

"Ian Bell's untimely foot injury during the NatWest Series was obviously a disappointing blow but he is now focused on his rehabilitation and should make a full recovery in due course.

“Ian's absence provides other batsmen with the chance to impress against a world-class Pakistan bowling attack.”

England squad

Andrew Strauss (captain, Middlesex)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Ajmal Shahzad (Yorkshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)