Post by silent on Aug 4, 2009 14:49:03 GMT
Trott gets surprise England call
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8182609.stm
England have handed a shock call-up to Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia which starts at Headingley on Friday.
The uncapped right-hander is included in a 14-man squad, which also features seamer Ryan Sidebottom, but left-arm spinner Monty Panesar is omitted.
South Africa-born Trott could provide cover for all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who is struggling with a knee injury.
The 28-year-old has 831 first-class runs this season at an average of 83.
Trott struggled in his only previous experience of international cricket, scoring just 11 runs in two Twenty20 internationals against West Indies at the Oval in 2007, but impressed during the England Academy's tour of New Zealand last winter.
We will need to carefully assess the pitch and the overhead conditions at Headingley - the inclusion of Steve Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom will give us different types of pace bowling options
Australia have dilemmas of their own, not least whether or not to risk paceman Brett Lee, who has missed the first three Tests with a side strain.
On Sunday, Lee declared himself "80-85%" fit but the New South Wales man, who has 310 Test scalps, does not have a chance to prove himself before Friday and the selectors may consider him to be too much of a gamble.
Stuart Clark, chief tormentor of England in the 2006-07 Ashes series, which Australia won 5-0, could come in for Peter Siddle, with Mitchell Johnson likely to keep his place, despite an inconsistent series so far.