Ashes Betting: Panesar included as squad is announced

England / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 22 September 2010 /

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Monty's last appearance for England was when he helped secure a draw in the 1st Test at Cardiff last summer

"Ian Bell is included after recovering from a lengthy injury whilst Kevin Pietersen is re-called after being “rested” for the Pakistan ODI series to re-find some form with the bat after being loaned out to Surrey but there’s no place in the squad for Ravi Bopara."

Monty Panesar is included in England's Ashes squad, as is Chris Tremlett and Steven Davies, but there's no place for Ravi Bopara...

Monty Panesar is the most surprising inclusion in England's Ashes squad for this winter's tour. The Sussex spinner, who moved from Northamptonshire this year and had a good season for his county, has been selected as cover for Graeme Swann.

Panesar made an important contribution to last summer's Ashes win, albeit in an unexpected fashion, when he joined James Anderson at the crease late in the evening session on day five at Cardiff and batted out the remaining overs to earn England a draw, which in the end proved crucial. He hasn't represented England in any form of the game since.

There's also a place in the squad for Yorkshire's all-rounder Tim Bresnan who has played regularly for England in all forms of the game over the last year or so, including being an ever-present in their T20 World Cup team. Bresnan also played every match in their recent ODI Series win over Pakistan , which England won 3-2, though he's not necessarily guaranteed to be an automatic choice in the Test team.

Chris Tremlett of Surrey is also in the Test squad as back-up for the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn. Steven Davies, also of Surrey, gets the nod as back-up for wicket-keeper Matt Prior ahead of the likes of Chris Read, Tim Ambrose, James Foster and Craig Kieswetter. Davies had a good ODI Series against Pakistan with both bat and gloves but is the only uncapped member of the squad when it comes to Test cricket.

Ian Bell is included after recovering from a lengthy injury whilst Kevin Pietersen is re-called after being "rested" for the Pakistan ODI series to re-find some form with the bat after being loaned out to Surrey, but there's no place in the squad for Ravi Bopara.

Pace bowler Steven Finn has been handed a central contract alongside Jonathan Trott, who has had a fine summer for England with the bat, despite being criticised for having a low strike rate in the shorter forms of the game.

England are [3.55] to win the Ashes with Australia [1.76] and it's [6.4] the drawn series. On another Betfair market, England are [2.08] to retain the Ashes.

Full Test Squad:

Andrew Strauss (captain) (Middlesex)

Alastair Cook (vice-captain) (Essex)

James Anderson (Lancashire)

Ian Bell (Warwickshire)

Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)

Paul Collingwood (Durham)

Steven Davies (wicketkeeper) (Surrey)

Steven Finn (Middlesex)

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)

Monty Panesar (Sussex)

Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)

Matt Prior (wicketkeeper) (Sussex)

Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)

Chris Tremlett (Surrey)

Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)

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