Lutters Lines (October 1)

THE Ashes, arguably the biggest cricketing contest on the planet, starts in November and England have announced their squad prior to them going off to what’s been described as “boot camp”.

In years gone by, fitness wasn’t a massive issue. In fact, some of the players were massive but I imagine the “team bonding” card will be played in interview at some point, too.

As ever, it’s mainly the usual suspects, with Kevin Pietersen coming back in, as does Alastair Cook as vice-captain and Matt Prior, all having gratefully missed the one-day farce against Pakistan. There are a few surprise selections, however, as well as omissions from the 16-man squad.

Monty Panesar returns after a couple of years in the wilderness and a change of counties (Northants to Sussex). He gets in ahead of young Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who has had a great season with the bat, but his bowling can be a little patchy.

James Tredwell, from Kent, also misses out having played last winter in Bangladesh, but he hasn’t set the world alight for Kent as they were relegated this summer. Both go on the Performance Programme to Australia anyway, so could see themselves as part of a wider squad.

Panesar helped Sussex’s promotion push back to Division 1 of the County Championship with 52 wickets at an average of just over 25 – which isn’t a bad return for someone coming out of a dip in form the previous season.

Rashid has taken more wickets (57 in all) but at an average of 31, but he has contributed 732 runs compared to Monty’s paltry 154.

Tredwell has scored 489 runs and bagged 38 wickets at 30 runs a piece. Monty can regard himself as a little lucky but must take his chance with both hands, and the fact that he is experienced at that level must have counted in his favour.

The big surprise in the squad was Chris Tremlett, formerly of Hampshire, but now plying his trade at Surrey. He has taken 48 wickets this season but the guy’s player profile picture should be a biscuit after all the injury problems he has suffered in his career.

It’s a risky pick and something of an eyebrow raiser for him to get in ahead of another young Yorkshireman, Ajmal Shahzad, who really impressed this summer and offers the England attack something a bit different, with his ability to reverse swing the old ball at pace. Shahzad can regard himself as being a little unlucky to have missed out.

Reserve wicketkeeper to Sussex’s Prior goes to Steven Davies, who has done well in the one-day farce and deserves his chance ahead of Somerset’s South African Englishman Craig Kieswetter, who has had an average season after a successful winter in the Twenty20 World Cup.

I’ve no doubt that the two squads will be reasonably fluid, as they are both in the same country (great organisation by the ECB), and I envisage a few changes in personnel between the two.

It’s a pity that more Sussex players aren’t involved, too, with the likes of Chris Nash having had a good season.

Playing in Division 2 wouldn’t have helped their cause, but next winter I expect to see a few making the grade.