Lewis gets England call as Hoggard joins injury list by AFP

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Event:

Pakistan in British Isles 2006

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DateLine: 10th July 2006

 

Jonathan Lewis was called into England's squad Sunday for the first Test against Pakistan starting at Lord's on Thursday after Matthew Hoggard became the latest addition to the hosts' injury crisis.

 

Ashes-winner Hoggard, 29, had to have six stitches inserted into his bowling hand after Yorkshire colleague Tim Bresnan trod on it as the duo warmed up with a rugby kickabout before the third day's play Saturday in the ongoing match between England A and Pakistan at Canterbury.

 

Right-arm paceman Hoggard remains upbeat about extending his run of 32 consecutive Tests at Lord's, in what will be the first match of a four-Test series.

 

But the selectors decided to bring in Lewis, whose one and so far only Test was in England's 134-run defeat by Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge last month, as cover for the swing specialist in what was now a 13-man squad.

 

"We have included five pace bowlers in the squad, because we need cover for Matthew Hoggard following the hand injury he sustained while with England A yesterday (Saturday)," chairman of selectors David Graveney said after annnouncing the squad Sunday.

 

"Matthew's injury will be reassessed by our medical staff on Tuesday, and we will give him the maximum time he needs to prove his fitness because he is the most experienced member of our attack," he added.

 

Meanwhile fast bowler Stephen Harmison returned to the Test squad after missing the whole of the 1-1 drawn series against Sri Lanka with a shin problem.

 

Opening batsman Andrew Strauss will captain England for the first time in a Test in the ongoing absence of Andrew Flintoff.

 

The star all-rounder's ankle problem has opened up a path for the return of batsman Ian Bell, relegated behind Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood in the Test arena but who featured during England's recent 5-0 one-day series thrashing by Sri Lanka.

 

Bell could yet come into the final XI as an extra batsman as the seletors try to decide how to re-balance the team without star performer Flintoff.

 

The Lancashire hero is set to make his comeback in a Twenty20 match Sunday with Strauss deputising until the man England want to lead them in the Ashes series in Australia later this year, as Michael Vaughan is ruled out with a knee injury, regains full fitness.

 

There was no place in the squad for off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple, one of England's few successes with both bat and ball in the one-day debacle against Sri Lanka, with Monty Panesar the lone specialist slow bowler in the squad.

 

As well as Vaughan and Flintoff, England are also without two of their other Ashes-winning stars in left-arm spinner Ashley Giles (hip) and reverse-swing expert Simon Jones (knee), while reserve quick James Anderson has back trouble.

 

But batsman Kevin Pietersen (knee) and all-rounder Collingwood (thigh and ribs) have both been included after missing one-day matches against Sri Lanka.

 

England have not won a series of any sort since the Ashes, losing 2-0 in a Test campaign away to Pakistan in December before drawing to India (away) and Sri Lanka (home) while losing three one-day campaigns.

 

And they have not beaten Pakistan in a Test series in England since 1982.

 

Squad:

 

Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex, capt), Alastair Cook (Essex), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Geraint Jones (Kent, wkt), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Matthew

 

Hoggard (Yorkshire), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire).

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)