Trott ruled out of 3rd Test

Bopara named replacement, Finn on standby for Tremlett.

LONDON:

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.

Trott, who was 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 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.

England selector Geoff Miller, after announcing the squad, said, “We’ve seen some very pleasing performances during the first two Tests but there’s still plenty more to do in this series, and the squad and management will be determined to carry the momentum and push for a comprehensive series victory.”

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

Dravid makes surprise ODI comeback

Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid was recalled to the Indian squad for next month’s one-day series against England, but the injured Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh were left out.

Dravid played his last One-Day International (ODI) in September 2009 but got the selectors’ nod following his impressive performances in the ongoing four-Test series in England. The 38-year-old, who has scored 10,765 runs in 339 ODIs including 12 centuries, is the most successful Indian batsman on the tour with two hundreds in the opening two Tests.

“We have selected the team on basis of the conditions in England,” said chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth. “We have selected the team after a lot of deliberation and I am sure it is a very good side.”





Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2011.