England turn back to Panesar

Monty Panesar’s return to the England fold was confirmed yesterday morning, after he was selected as the second spinner for the Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Panesar, who joins reserve wicketkeeper Steve Davies in an otherwise predictable squad of 16 under captain Andrew Strauss, has been out of favour since the last of his 39 Tests to date at the start of the 2009 Ashes series.

England were also able to name a number of regulars who are fit to travel next month after injury, and in some cases surgery.

Batsman Eoin Morgan has been unavailable since the first match of England’s one-day series at home to India in September, because of a shoulder injury which required an operation.

Fast bowler Stuart Broad also hurt his shoulder in that same series, and missed the return – a 5-0 hammering for England – in India. Broad’s fellow seamer Chris Tremlett has been absent longer, having injured his back before last summer’s Trent Bridge Test against India, while pace bowler Tim Bresnan has recovered quickly after a recent operation on his elbow.

Steven Finn, the sole success story of England’s hapless autumn tour, is also in the reckoning as a pace option. But it is the presence of Panesar that catches the eye. National selector Geoff Miller said: “Monty’s selection comes off the back of a strong domestic season with Sussex and with the potentially spin-friendly conditions of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in mind.”

Panesar, who as a left-arm orthodox turns the ball in the opposite direction to off-spinner Graeme Swann, will be no mere stand-by and could well operate in tandem with Swann if pitches in the Middle East are as England anticipate.