July 16, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 30, 1428

LONDON, July 15: Uncapped pace bowler Stuart Broad was called up Sunday into England's 13-man squad for the first Test against India starting at Lord's on Thursday.

Broad, 21, was included after fast bowler Stephen Harmison was rated ‘extremely doubtful’ on Saturday for the opening match of a three-Test series after suffering a recurrence of his hernia injury.

Leicestershire's Broad, the son of former England opening batsman Chris, has played nine One-day Internationals but has yet to play in a Test.

He was included along with Lancashire quick James Anderson, the pair set to compete for the final place in England's starting side if Harmison is unfit.

England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said: “Stephen Harmison's hernia problem will be re-assessed by our medical team when the team reports for the first Test on Monday evening.

“At this stage his chances of playing are slim and the choice for the final pace bowling position will be between James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

“They are different types of bowlers and the final decision will depend on our assessment of the pitch and the weather conditions at Lord's.

“It will be very disappointing if we are without Stephen as he has been in excellent form for Durham recently and looked to be back to his best in the last Test against the West Indies at Chester-le-Street.”

Graveney added: “It may mean that we have to go into this series with a relatively inexperienced attack, but I am sure all of the bowlers concerned will relish the opportunity to test themselves against a side which has one of the strongest batting line-ups in world cricket.”

Broad n Sunday said: “Test cricket is the ultimate goal which every cricketer aspires to.

“I'm just looking forward to it and linking up with the squad,” he also told SKy Sports having so far taken two wickets in a match where India batting star Sachin Tendulkar has scored 171.

Harmison bowled just five overs on Friday in Durham's ongoing match away to county champions Sussex before being ruled out of the remainder of the game.

The 28-year-old originally sustained the injury at his Riverside home ground nearly a month ago during England's fourth Test win over the West Indies which gave them a 3-0 series victory.

However, he opted against immediate surgery after being advised he could play in the India series.

Were either Broad or Anderson to play at Lord's, they would be the only change to the XI that beat West Indies by seven wickets at the Riverside in June with pace bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff still sidelined by a recurrence of a longstanding ankle injury.

England captain Michael Vaughan and experienced pace bowler Matthew Hoggard are the only two survivors from the team that won the corresponding fixture against India five years ago.

The Yorkshire pair helped England to a 170-run victory at Lord's with Vaughan scoring 100 in the second innings and Hoggard returning match figures of seven for 120.

England squad: Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Alastair Cook (Essex), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire, captain), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Matthew Prior (Sussex), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Stuart Broad (Leicestershire).—AFP