James Taylor, Monty Panesar and Chris Tremlett have all been named
in a 14-man England squad for this week's third Ashes Test against
Australia at Old Trafford.
Taylor will act as cover for Kevin Pietersen, who picked up a calf injury during England's crushing second Test victory at Lord's and is in a race against time to be fit for Old Trafford.
Left-arm spinner Panesar and tall paceman Tremlett come in for seamers Steven Finn and Graham Onions, who failed to make the starting XI at Lord's and have now been left out of the squad altogether.
Pietersen's injury will continue to be assessed in the run-up to the Test, which gets underway on Thursday and, if he is ruled out, Taylor will earn a third Test cap.
The 23-year-old Nottinghamshire batsman, long regarded as a fine prospect for Test cricket, is playing for Sussex in a Tour match against the Australians this week at the behest of the England management.
And the compact right-hander made a classy century against the tourists to consolidate his status as next-man-in-line if any of England's middle order are forced to miss out.
Old Trafford wickets often turn from an early stage, hence the decision to include the experienced Panesar, who has played 48 Tests and will join Graeme Swann in the side if England opt to play two specialist spinners.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the return of Tremlett, who has had trouble with injuries and played the most recent of his 11 Tests against Pakistan in January of 2012.
However, the 31-year-old was very impressive in the last Ashes series in Australia, taking 17 wickets in just three Tests, and he has been performing well for Surrey this summer.
England are 2-0 up in the series with three matches to play and National selector Geoff Miller said: "The players worked hard at Trent Bridge and Lord's to get into a very good position in this Investec Ashes Series, but will be fully aware that there is still a great deal of cricket left in the series.
"Kevin Pietersen is continuing his recovery from a calf strain and he will be assessed by the medical team closer to the start of the Test. We have therefore included an extra batsman in James Taylor, who has been in good form for Nottinghamshire this season.
"Chris Tremlett has worked hard to regain fitness and form following a couple of injuries and his performances for Surrey this season have been very encouraging.
"Including an additional spinner in Monty Panesar, who has plenty of international experience, provides Alastair Cook and (coach) Andy Flower with a number of options."
England squad: Cook (captain), Anderson, Bairstow, Bell, Bresnan, Broad, Panesar, Pietersen, Prior, Root, Swann, Taylor, Tremlett, Trott
Taylor will act as cover for Kevin Pietersen, who picked up a calf injury during England's crushing second Test victory at Lord's and is in a race against time to be fit for Old Trafford.
Left-arm spinner Panesar and tall paceman Tremlett come in for seamers Steven Finn and Graham Onions, who failed to make the starting XI at Lord's and have now been left out of the squad altogether.
Pietersen's injury will continue to be assessed in the run-up to the Test, which gets underway on Thursday and, if he is ruled out, Taylor will earn a third Test cap.
The 23-year-old Nottinghamshire batsman, long regarded as a fine prospect for Test cricket, is playing for Sussex in a Tour match against the Australians this week at the behest of the England management.
And the compact right-hander made a classy century against the tourists to consolidate his status as next-man-in-line if any of England's middle order are forced to miss out.
Old Trafford wickets often turn from an early stage, hence the decision to include the experienced Panesar, who has played 48 Tests and will join Graeme Swann in the side if England opt to play two specialist spinners.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the return of Tremlett, who has had trouble with injuries and played the most recent of his 11 Tests against Pakistan in January of 2012.
However, the 31-year-old was very impressive in the last Ashes series in Australia, taking 17 wickets in just three Tests, and he has been performing well for Surrey this summer.
England are 2-0 up in the series with three matches to play and National selector Geoff Miller said: "The players worked hard at Trent Bridge and Lord's to get into a very good position in this Investec Ashes Series, but will be fully aware that there is still a great deal of cricket left in the series.
"Kevin Pietersen is continuing his recovery from a calf strain and he will be assessed by the medical team closer to the start of the Test. We have therefore included an extra batsman in James Taylor, who has been in good form for Nottinghamshire this season.
"Chris Tremlett has worked hard to regain fitness and form following a couple of injuries and his performances for Surrey this season have been very encouraging.
"Including an additional spinner in Monty Panesar, who has plenty of international experience, provides Alastair Cook and (coach) Andy Flower with a number of options."
England squad: Cook (captain), Anderson, Bairstow, Bell, Bresnan, Broad, Panesar, Pietersen, Prior, Root, Swann, Taylor, Tremlett, Trott