London: Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan have both been recalled by England in a 12-man squad announced Saturday for next week's first Test against New Zealand at Lord's following their respective recoveries from elbow surgery.
Off-spinner Swann and seamer Bresnan both last played Test cricket in the series-clinching win over India in Nagpur in December and missed the recent drawn three-Test series in New Zealand. However, Nottinghamshire's Swann and Yorkshire's Bresnan have both since proved their fitness playing county cricket this season. With star batsman Kevin Pietersen already ruled out because of knee trouble, there were few surprises in the squad announced by England national selector Geoff Miller.
The same six specialist batsmen who played in England's last Test - the dramatic draw against New Zealand at Auckland two months ago where wicket-keeper Matt Prior's unbeaten hundred helped stave off defeat with just one wicket standing, were included. Swann, as widely predicted, replaced Monty Panesar as the only specialist spinner in the squad while England opted against naming an extra seamer, as they did when Durham's Graham Onions was included before last year's corresponding first Test of the English season, against the West Indies.
"Both Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan have worked hard to regain fitness following elbow surgery and have demonstrated through their performances for their counties that they are ready for the challenge of international cricket," Miller said. Although billed in some quarters as a mere 'warm-up' for England's subsequent home Ashes series against
03:27 PM, May 11, 2013
London: England offspinner Graeme Swann has been penalised for 'showing serious dissent' during his comeback game for Nottinghamshire against Durham in the County Championship this week. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Friday that Swann had been found guilty of a "level two" disciplinary breach but had escaped a ban. Swann stayed in his crease for several seconds and lifted his hands above his head after being...
09:51 PM, May 03, 2013
London: Offspinner Graeme Swann has been called up by England for next month's Champions Trophy after making his recovery from an elbow injury that ruled him out of the recent tour of New Zealand. Pacer Tim Bresnan is also in the 15-man squad following his comeback from a similar injury, with selectors happy to throw the bowlers straight back into action rather than keep them fresh for the Ashes series...
03:32 PM, May 03, 2013
Swann, a 50-Test veteran, had to pull out of the squad to face New Zealand on the eve of the first Test in Dunedin. ...
09:01 AM, Mar 15, 2013
Swann was a surprise omission from England's team before the toss for the first Test against New Zealand and was replaced by left arm spinner Monty Panesar. ...
12:32 PM, Mar 06, 2013
But the leader of India's spin attack went into defensive when asked about the possible bowling combination for the second Test. ...
02:46 PM, Mar 01, 2013
Lyon and Doherty are analysing the performance of their English counterparts in India ahead of the four-match Test series in the sub-continent. ...
07:21 PM, Feb 01, 2013
We sift through the numbers, wickets and runs to pick the XI most valuable Twenty20 international cricketers of the year. ...
08:51 AM, Dec 30, 2012
"It is not strange for a home team to ask for a wicket to suit their team. We do that when we play in England," Swann said. ...
06:48 PM, Dec 11, 2012
England off-spinner Graeme Swann who has taken 17 wickets in the three Tests was not too concerned about the wicket. ...
05:52 PM, Dec 11, 2012
England go 2-1 up in the four match series, with the last Test starting in Nagpur from coming Thursday. ...
08:21 AM, Dec 09, 2012
'If we win the Kolkata Test, the series should end.' Is that next on the list of Dhoni's outrageous demands? ...
08:02 AM, Nov 27, 2012
'If we win the Kolkata Test, the series should end.' Is that next on the list of Dhoni's outrageous demands? ...
08:02 AM, Nov 27, 2012
Given a rank turner after he called for it, MS Dhoni oversaw one of India's most embarrassing home defeats of all time. ...
03:07 PM, Nov 26, 2012
The pair of Panesar and Swann not only managed to find the right length required to bowl on this surface, but their trajectory was also way better than their Indian counterparts. ...
02:06 PM, Nov 26, 2012
England thrashed India by 10 wickets in the second Test to level the four-match series 1-1. ...
12:48 PM, Nov 26, 2012
"To some extent, yes I am disappointed with our spinners. We let England bat on the back foot," Dhoni said after a 10-wicket thumping at Mumbai on Monday. ...
11:57 AM, Nov 26, 2012
Kevin Pietersen (186) and Monty Panesar (11 for 210) combined to help England record a 10-wicket win on day four. ...
10:47 AM, Nov 26, 2012
Swann finished with fine figures of four for 70 to help England bowl out India for 327. ...
06:54 PM, Nov 24, 2012
In reply to India's 327 at Mumbai, Cook and Pietersen added an unbeaten 110 to take England to 178 for 2 at stumps on day two. ...
11:23 AM, Nov 24, 2012
