England Squad for first npower Test v India

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England today named a 13-man squad for next week's 1st npower Test Match v India at Lord's starting on Thursday.

With Surrey's Alex Tudor ruled out through injury, the Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White is recalled to the squad together with the Derbyshire captain, Dominic Cork.

Hampshire's John Crawley and uncapped Glamorgan fast bowler, Simon Jones, both named in the squad for the Old Trafford Test v Sri Lanka, are also included.

Commenting on the selection, Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: "John Crawley came into the side for the 1st npower Test against Sri Lanka and acquitted himself well. There is no reason why he should be overlooked now as we want to be consistent in our selection policy.

"The injury to Alex Tudor means that we need someone with batting capability in the number eight position. Depending on the balance of the side and the nature of the wicket, there could be an opportunity for either Dominic Cork or Craig White in this position.

"Craig played well in India in the winter, making his first Test hundred, and although he had a few injuries that affected his bowling, he is now back to fitness and bowling well again. We feel his ability to reverse swing the ball could be useful if the Lord's wicket is as flat as it was against Sri Lanka, whilst Dominic will give us another option if the wicket is more seamer-friendly.

"Simon Jones is also an option for us as he has express pace and has been bowling well for Glamorgan in recent weeks.

"The injury to Marcus Trescothick means that we will have to readjust our batting order and Michael Vaughan will open the innings with Mark Butcher - preserving the right/left combination which has served us well in the past.

"We have had some injury problems ahead of this matchbut we are fully aware of how important it is to start this Test series well as this an area we have sometimes fallen down on previously."

England Squad for first npower Test v India

Players                                                 D.O.B


Nasser Hussain (captain) (Essex)                        28.3.68
Mark Butcher (Surrey)                                   23.8.72
Dominic Cork (Derbyshire)                               7.8.71
John Crawley (Hampshire)                                21.9.71
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)                            6.12.77
Darren Gough (Yorkshire)                                18.9.70
Ashley Giles (Warwickshire)                             19.3.73
Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)                             31.12.76
Simon Jones (Glamorgan)                                 25.12.78
Alec Stewart (Surrey)                                   8.4.63
Graham Thorpe (Surrey)                                  1.8.69
Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire)                             29.10.74
Craig White (Yorkshire)                                 16.12.69

A limited number of tickets are still available for the 1st npower Test via www.lords.org or through the ECB Ticket Hotline on 08705338833. Please note: tickets for Friday and Saturday's play are sold out.