Panesar gets England recall

CRICKET: LONDON, Dec 10 (AFP) - England recalled spinner Monty Panesar when they named a 16-man squad on Friday for their upcoming Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. The series, being played in the UAE because of ongoing security concerns in Pakistan, will be England’s first since they went to number one in the world Test rankings during a 4-0 home thrashing of India earlier this year.

Left-arm spinner Panesar has been in the international wilderness since playing the last of his 39 Tests two years ago, when his tailend resistance with the bat helped England cling on for a draw in the 2009 Ashes opener against Australia in Cardiff. But with pitches in the UAE expected to take turn, Panesar — whose 126 Test wickets have come at an average of just under 35 apiece — has been selected as the second spinner behind off-break bowler Graeme Swann in a 16-man squad.

Panesar has been playing club cricket in Australia and England national selector Geoff Miller, announcing the squad, said: “Monty Panesar, who has been playing cricket in Sydney recently, has been selected as the second spin option along with Graeme Swann. England will name their squads for the one-day and Twenty20 legs of the tour at a later date.

England Test squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Tim Bresnan, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Steven Davies (wkt), Monty Panesar, Ravi Bopara.