England keep faith with Caribbean heroes for 1st Test
LONDON, May 16: England predictably kept faith with the side that demolished West Indies 3-0 this year when the squad for the first Test against New Zealand was named on Sunday.
Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles returns for the opening match of the three-Test series starting at Lord's on Thursday after missing the final Test in the West Indies through illness.
Batsman Paul Collingwood and swing bowler James Anderson, who has made a fine start to the season after losing his place in the Caribbean, make up the 13. Chairman of selectors David Graveney said the selectors had been anxious to ensure continuity after the successes against West Indies.
"Our Test series win in the West Indies was a magnificent performance by all concerned and we are keen to keep the momentum going against New Zealand by drawing on the same group of players," he said in a statement.
"We have a settled squad at present and competition for places in the starting lineup is intense. "We need to assess the overhead conditions and the pitch at Lord's before deciding on our final XI and have added James Anderson and Paul Collingwood to the squad so that all options are covered."
The selectors have also kept faith with 36-year-old former captain Nasser Hussain, who has set his sights on winning a 100th cap this season. "His desire to play and represent his country is as strong as ever," Graveney told the BBC. "As long as that is the case he deserves to be selected."
Hussain's first series as captain ended with a 2-1 loss to New Zealand at home in 1999. The sides drew a three-Test series in New Zealand two years ago 1-1.
Squad: Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe, Paul Collingwood, Andy Flintoff, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Simon Jones. -Reuters
