LONDON, June 1: England selectors on Sunday named an unchanged 12-man squad for the final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge starting on Thursday.

Michael Vaughan’s team have a 1-0 lead in the series after winning the second Test at Old Trafford last week by six wickets.

England’s ability to fight back after conceding a 179-run first-innings deficit was enough to convince the selectors to retain the same squad when they assemble in Nottingham on Tuesday.

“We were delighted with the way the team fought back to win the second Test at Old Trafford and there were some excellent individual performances from Andrew Strauss and Monty Panesar which helped turn the game our way,” explained national selector Geoff Miller.

“There are still areas in which we can improve on as a side. We are aware of the need to post bigger first-innings totals on a more regular basis and that we have to bowl well as a unit in order to counter the strength of the New Zealand middle order.

“But overall we are pleased with the progress the team is making and have chosen the same group of players for this Test match.

“We have won three out of our last four Test matches and we will be looking to win again at Trent Bridge and take that momentum into the Test series against South Africa later in the summer.”

With Matthew Hoggard still recovering from a broken thumb, Hampshire seamer Chris Tremlett keeps his place in the squad.

Tremlett, who has not featured since the final Test of last summer against India, could press his claims to play at Trent Bridge over the next week.

And Miller insisted that the positions of under-fire England batsmen Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell are not under threat.

“They’re not under threat, we know what their qualities are and they’re averaging big scores in Test cricket,” Miller said.

Squad: Michael Vaughan (captain), Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett.—AFP