Panesar earns England call-up

28 January 2006

Spinner Monty Panesar has been called up into the England squad © Getty Images

England’s selectors have named the uncapped left-arm spinner Monty Panesar as the 16th member of their Test squad for the forthcoming tour of India.

The 23-year-old Northamptonshire bowler, who has represented England Under 19s and also attended the ECB National Academy in 2002-03, has been called up after taking 46 wickets in the County Championship last summer at an average of 21.54.

The selectors also announced that Ian Blackwell has been placed on standby to join the Test squad should Ashley Giles be ruled out through injury.

Somerset star Ian Blackwell has been named in the England A squad © Getty Images

The Somerset captain has been named in a 15-man England A squad to tour the West Indies under the captaincy of Worcestershire's Vikram Solanki.

Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: "Monty has done very well for Northamptonshire over a period of time and I am sure he will be really excited at the prospect of touring India.

"It is hugely to his credit that he took the initiative in approaching the selectors before Christmas to discuss how he could improve all aspects of his game and we are delighted with the progress he has made following his recent trip to Adelaide.

"Ian Blackwell has been placed on standby to join the Test squad if Ashley fails to recover from his injury in time prior to the tour. Further discussions will take place with the medical team with regard to this nearer to the time of the team's departure for India.

Promising youngster Alex Loudon is also selected for England A duty © Getty Images

"The selectors also considered Alex Loudon for the Test squad, and although he has not been included on this occasion, he made a good impression in Pakistan and is one of a number of spin-bowlers we have chosen in the England A squad to tour West Indies."

Commenting on Ashley Giles' hip injury, the ECB's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Peter Gregory, said: "Ashley has been experiencing discomfort in his right hip over the past fortnight following the operation he underwent in early December and saw a specialist in London on Tuesday.

"The expert advice we have received is that Ashley will need to rest if he is to achieve maximum benefit from surgery. Therefore, we do not intend to push Ashley through the more demanding stages of rehabilitation at this stage as this could compromise the future health of his hip joint.

"The medical team's current view is that it is unlikely that he will be fit for the start of the tour of India. But he will continue with his rehabilitation programme as pain allows and the medical team will continue to monitor his progress closely. "

England A squad to tour West Indies: