LONDON, Aug 8: England announced an unchanged squad for Thursday’s third Test at Old Trafford following Sunday’s incredible two-run win that levelled the five-match series at 1-1. Uncapped Hampshire pace bowler Chris Tremlett is retained in the 12-man party in addition to the 11 players who took the field during the second Test at Edgbaston.

“Yesterday’s result was fantastic not only for everyone connected with the England team but for the game of Test cricket as a whole,” England’s chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said in a statement on Monday.

“Both teams will be tired after Edgbaston and it will be important for us to ensure that we recover properly and prepare well for Old Trafford.” Australia are known to be thinking about playing a second leg-spinner in Stuart MacGill as well as leg-spin legend Shane Warne, who needs just one more wicket to become the the first bowler to take 600 in Tests, at Old Trafford given the Manchester venue’s reputation for producing ‘turning’ pitches.

However, England have decided that left-armer Ashley Giles, the lone specialist slow bowler in their squad, is enough of a spin option by himself.

“In the past we have included two spinners in our squad for an Old Trafford Test, but on this occasion, we feel that reverse swing is likely to be as important a factor as spin and we have that option available to us within our twelve,” Graveney explained.

SQUAD: Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (captain), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wicket-keeper), Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, Simon Jones, Chris Tremlett.—AFP