Monty Panesar and Chris Tremlett win final places on Ashes trip

Tremlett's height, bounce and reduced fragility and Panesar's new-found maturity have convinced Geoff Miller and his colleagues they are worth their places on the plane.

England will also keep faith with Kevin Pietersen's ability to revisit former glories as time runs short for the 2005 Ashes-winning batsman to rediscover his world-beating form.

Miller announced a largely predictable squad at the Brit Oval this afternoon, otherwise most notable perhaps for the inclusion of Tim Bresnan among the seamers at the expense of his fellow Yorkshire all-rounder Ajmal Shahzad.

The national selector believes both 29-year-old Tremlett and 28-year-old Panesar have benefited from new surroundings, at Surrey and Sussex respectively, this season.

"They both have new areas, and we have watched them pretty constantly," said Miller.

"Chris Tremlett has led the attack really well at Surrey as opposed to being just an ordinary bowler at Hampshire.

"He has taken the responsibility, and the kind of conditions we will no doubt get in Australia will suit him - so he got the nod."

Tremlett played the last of his three Tests more than three years ago, while Panesar has not been chosen by his country since the first match of last summer's Ashes in Cardiff.

But both have made persuasive cases with around 50 first-class wickets each this summer.

Tremlett is more likely to make the team as part of a pace attack which seems sure to feature James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn. Panesar will not displace Graeme Swann.

But Miller said: "Monty went away and developed his game.

"He was having a bad time and he appreciated that but has produced the goods for Sussex. We now have two quality spinners."

As for Pietersen, the hope is that - after being dropped from the NatWest Series squad in favour of a loan spell of first-class cricket at Surrey, which was a partial success at best - he can make the most of the stint he has arranged before the Ashes with his native KwaZulu Natal.

Asked whether he is convinced Pietersen's loss of form is merely a blip rather than the start of a terminal decline, at the age of 30, Miller was equivocal.

"You never know that, but we know how hard he works at his game and how hard he works at his business and how great a player he can be," he said.

"There is no magic answer to it. It's just a matter of putting in the hard work and making it right - and I'm sure his attitude towards it will put it right.He's had a lull in form, and we accept that."

England's batsmen may collectively have plenty to prove this winter, but it seems the pace attack - and specifically the rangy trio of Finn, Broad and Tremlett - are part of a master plan.

Miller said: "There are plans ahead. Size obviously does matter - there are going to be some bouncy wickets over there, and we obviously have cover in the bouncy areas.

"But we also have people who can swing as well, so there is a good cross-section there."

Tremlett's call-up appears to have surprised him more than many others. "I'm thrilled to bits," he told Surrey TV. "I've had a very successful season personally and a great year with Surrey, but this just tops it off.

"England wasn't on my radar - although getting back in the England set-up was at the back of my mind at some point."

Tremlett's previous claim to fame was perhaps as 12th man in England's squad for the final Test when the Ashes were won for the first time in a generation five years ago. He remembers that well, of course, but is determined to play a more telling role this time round.

"I was in the squad in 2005, and it was great to be around," he said. "But to go over to Australia and beat them on their own patch, as tours and teams go, this is the trip. England have come a long way and I hope to fit in and play a big part."