LONDON, Aug 6: Batsman Jonathan Trott has been left out of the England squad for the third Test against India after failing to recover from a shoulder injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Saturday.

Trott, who was therefore omitted from the 13-man squad, will be replaced by Ravi Bopara, rather than the uncapped James Taylor, who had been touted as a possible replacement for a match that starts at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground on Wednesday after impressing for the second string England Lions this season.

England have also named Steven Finn as fast-bowling cover for Chris Tremlett, who is expected to be fit after suffering from hamstring trouble and back spasms.

Trott sustained the injury diving in the field during England's 319-run victory over India in the second Test at Nottingham that left the hosts 2-0 up in the four-match series.

Should England win again at Edgbaston they will replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table.

England national selector Geoff Miller, after announcing the squad, said: “Ravi Bopara comes in for Jonathan Trott, who is continuing his rehabilitation from his shoulder injury.

“Chris Tremlett is recovering well from the back spasms that ruled him out of the second Test –– and although we are expecting him to be fully fit ahead of Wednesday, we felt it was prudent to include an extra seam bowler at this stage.

“That means Steven Finn comes into the squad.”

Bopara has played 10 Tests for England but none since August 2009.

Former England off-spinner Miller added: “We have seen some very pleasing performances during the first two npower Test matches.

“But there is still plenty more to do in this series, and the squad and management will be determined to carry the momentum from recent weeks through to the remaining two Tests and push for a comprehensive series victory.”

England squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wicket-keeper), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Ravi Bopara, Steven Finn.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Ties with Tehran
Updated 24 Apr, 2024

Ties with Tehran

Tomorrow, if ties between Washington and Beijing nosedive, and the US asks Pakistan to reconsider CPEC, will we comply?
Working together
24 Apr, 2024

Working together

PAKISTAN’S democracy seems adrift, and no one understands this better than our politicians. The system has gone...
Farmers’ anxiety
24 Apr, 2024

Farmers’ anxiety

WHEAT prices in Punjab have plummeted far below the minimum support price owing to a bumper harvest, reckless...
By-election trends
Updated 23 Apr, 2024

By-election trends

Unless the culture of violence and rigging is rooted out, the credibility of the electoral process in Pakistan will continue to remain under a cloud.
Privatising PIA
23 Apr, 2024

Privatising PIA

FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s reaffirmation that the process of disinvestment of the loss-making national...
Suffering in captivity
23 Apr, 2024

Suffering in captivity

YET another animal — a lioness — is critically ill at the Karachi Zoo. The feline, emaciated and barely able to...