Trott gets nod for Oval finale

16 August 2009

Jonathan Trott heads into the final Test of the series having made a century for Warwickshire earlier this week

England have announced a 14-man squad for the fifth npower Ashes Test against Australia at the Brit Oval starting on Thursday.

The uncapped Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott has again been included and Monty Panesar returns to the squad after missing out at Headingley Carnegie, but Ravi Bopara has been omitted.

ECB national selector Geoff Miller said: “The final Test match is an absolutely vital game for the team with so much at stake and we have had to make some difficult selection decisions in choosing our squad for the Brit Oval.

“Ravi Bopara has been going through a tough time with the bat in this series and we have decided to leave him out of the squad for this game.

“He will be extremely disappointed but remains very much part of our plans for the future and I am sure that he has the talent and temperament to regain his place in the side.

“Ravi’s omission means Jonathan Trott will make his Test debut at the Brit Oval.

“Having been part of the squad at Headingley, he was the next batsman in line in our view and this rewards him for the excellent form he has shown in county cricket both this summer and with England Lions over the winter.

“Ian Bell will bat at three next week which is a position he has occupied for England before and we were delighted to see both him and Jonathan make centuries for Warwickshire this week.

“Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson’s injuries are much improved with rest and treatment and we anticipate that both players will be fit and available for selection next Thursday.“

Squad

Andrew Strauss, captain (Middlesex)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)
Stephen Harmison (Durham)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)