England squad announced

By Sam Hathaway
July 9 2006

The England squad for the first test against Pakistan is out and the selectors have decided to recall inconsistent batsmen Ian Bell. Matthew Hoggard is a doubt while Jon Lewis and Sajid Mahmood are also named in the 13 man squad.

Temporary captain Andrew Strauss will lead the side out at Lords while Andrew Flintoff recovers from an ankle injury.
Steve Harmison makes a test match comeback after missing the Sri Lanka test series with a injured shin.
The recall of Bell is most likely down to his performance this week and will replace the young Alastair Cook. The Warwickshire batsmen hit 74 in a tour match and is likely to bat in the middle order.
With Flintoff out, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell are expected to have a big part to play in the bowling and batting department.

"You can't replace the irreplaceable so you either weaken the batting or the bowling," spoke David Graveney.

"The scenario is that Ian Bell will play and he and Paul Collingwood will supplement the four-man attack.

"Bell fully justifies being called in and I'm sure he knows there is a lot of competition, not just against Pakistan but also in the winter."

England will have to wait on opening bowler Matthew Hoggard as he suffered a bad cut on his bowling hand needed several stitches.

"We'll give him the maximum amount of time to prove his fitness," said Graveney.

"It's a nasty injury on his bowling hand but hopefully he will be able to bowl on Thursday.

"He would be a huge loss, particularly when Freddie's not available."

The selectors have decided not to take the impressive Jamie Dalrymple and have called up 'fans favourite' Monty Panesar to lead the spin attack.

England squad: A Strauss (capt), M Trescothick, A Cook, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, I Bell, G Jones (wkt), L Plunkett, M J Hoggard, S Harmison, J Lewis, M Panesar, S Mahmood