da betsul： England have stuck with the team who drew 1-1 with New Zealand for the first Investec Ashes Test in Cardiff while adding Adil Rashid and Steven Finn to a 13-man squad
da brdice： ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-20155:40
Ashes Key Battles: Will spin play a part?
England have stuck with the team who drew 1-1 with New Zealand for the first Investec Ashes Test in Cardiff while adding Adil Rashid and Steven Finn to a 13-man squad. Rashid was not part of the group taken to Spain for a training camp with the new coach, Trevor Bayliss, but took four wickets in Yorkshire’s Championship win over Durham to continue the good impression he made during the recent ODIs.The Yorkshire legspinner has yet to be capped in Tests but will provide competition for Moeen Ali, although both could yet play. Bayliss, who is due to speak to the media for the first time since being appointed, said that England would consider including two spinners when assessing conditions before the series begins next Wednesday. “There’s been a bit of hot weather around so we want that option,” he told the ECB website.Finn returns to the reckoning ahead of Chris Jordan and Liam Plunkett, who is still recovering from an injury sustained during the one-day series with New Zealand, but there was no place for Derbyshire left-armer Mark Footitt, who was part of the 14 that returned from Spain on Tuesday.There were otherwise no surprises in the make-up of the group to take on Australia and the XI that played both Tests against New Zealand could well continue in Cardiff. Gary Ballance has retained his spot despite recent poor form and his Yorkshire team-mate Adam Lyth will partner Alastair Cook at the top of the order, having made his maiden Test hundred at Headingley last month.Jonny Bairstow, another Yorkshireman, could not force his way into contention despite a prolific run with the bat. Jos Buttler is fit to take the wicketkeeping gloves after a hand injury that led to Bairstow deputising in an ODI and T20 with New Zealand.Adil Rashid has been added to England’s 13-man squad for the first Investec Test•Getty Images
Mark Wood, who has been identified as a key weapon in England’s attack, will be expected to join James Anderson and Stuart Broad in forming the pace attack, supplemented by allrounder Ben Stokes.Although there are plenty of young faces in the squad, there is Ashes experience running through the middle. Ian Bell, the only survivor from England’s 2005 victory, will be playing in his seventh Ashes series, Cook and Anderson their sixth, and Broad his fifth. Cook will lead England for the third time and can call on the inside knowledge of Australian Bayliss as he attempts to regain the urn after the 2013-14 whitewashing.Bayliss has arrived in England to take charge after being named as Peter Moores’ successor last month. He inherits a side that have won six of their last eight Tests – despite drawn series against New Zealand and West Indies – and which has taken further confidence from improved limited-overs form.”Adil Rashid’s inclusion provides Alastair and Trevor with plenty of bowling options and the surface at Cardiff will dictate who makes the final XI,” England’s national selector, James Whitaker, said. “Within the squad there are players who have plenty of experience of Ashes cricket and that knowledge will I’m sure be useful for the players who are yet to experience a home Ashes series.”There has been some very good cricket played so far this summer and we are aware that we will need to build on that over the next seven weeks if we are to win back the Ashes. On behalf of the selectors I’d like to congratulate the 13 players selected for the first Investec Test and wish them as well as Trevor all the very best for what will I’m sure be a very competitive and entertaining series.”England squad for the first Test: Alastair Cook (capt), Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson, Adil Rashid, Steven Finn
