Panesar named in Ashes squad
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Your support makes all the difference.Chris Tremlett and Monty Panesar earned their places in England's squad for the Ashes series in Australia with impressive domestic form, according to national selector Geoff Miller.
Surrey seamer Tremlett, who has not played a Test for his country since the home series against India in 2007, enjoyed an outstanding season in topping his county's bowling averages.
Panesar, meanwhile, took 52 wickets in his first season with Sussex and will travel as the second spinner to Graeme Swann.
When asked what had got the duo the nod ahead of the likes of James Tredwell and Ajmal Shahzad, Miller said: "They have something in common They have both got new clubs to play for and we have watched them pretty constantly.
"Chris has led the attack and done really well at Surrey as opposed to being an ordinary bowler, like he was at Hampshire. He has taken responsibility and bowled really well.
"Conditions in Australia should suit him so consequently he got the nod on that.
"Monty went away and developed his game. He was having a bad time, we told him what he needed to do. He also got a new area to play in and he has produced the goods for them this year.
"He is a quality spinner and so we have two quality spinners going out.
Miller also revealed that Panesar's previous experience in Australia - he was part of the squad that was whitewashed during the 2006-07 series - had counted in his favour.
The 28-year-old was left out of the side for the first two Tests on that tour before taking five for 92 in the first innings of the third Test in Perth.
"Monty has been to Australia before and did well once he got in the side," he said.
"It was up to him to go away and resurrect his career. There were times we thought he was not thinking for himself.
"He has been given the onus to do that at Sussex. He has set his field and had conversations with his captain and coach and he has developed as a person."
Aside from the selections of Tremlett and Panesar the 16-man squad has a settled look to it, and Miller admitted that with England having gone through the summer unbeaten, winning six consecutive series in all formats, selection had been relatively straightforward.
"We have talked about the Ashes squad for quite some time and it's never easy and there will be disappointments as well.
"We have been playing good cricket for 18 months and we have had an eye on the Ashes for a while.
"We have been watching and studying and monitoring players constantly. It's never easy but it could have been more difficult."
Miller, asked about the prospects of England winning the Ashes series, added:
"There is quality in the squad and if they all perform to their potential there is no reason why we cannot retain the Ashes.
Miller believes Kevin Pietersen's decision to play for his old South African team KwaZulu-Natal next month as part of his Ashes preparations will be beneficial.
"I'm sure when it comes to the nitty gritty of performing against Australia he will be up for the challenge," he said.
ECB managing director Hugh Morris believes England's players have shown a togetherness during their controversial series against Pakistan that will serve them well Down Under.
"We have a really good group of cricketers and the team has developed enormously over the last 18 months.
"I think they are a tight knit group and a resilient group which we are going to need in Australia and which they've shown over the last few weeks.
"Having not won down there for 24 years it would be an outstanding achievement if we win."
England Ashes Test squad for the tour of Australia:
AJ Strauss (capt), AN Cook, JM Anderson, IR Bell, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, PD Collingwood, SM Davies (wkt), ST Finn, EJG Morgan, MS Panesar, KP Pietersen, MJ Prior (wkt), GP Swann, CT Tremlett, IJL Trott.
England's Ashes Itinerary:
Nov. 5, 2010: v Western Australia, Perth
Nov. 11-13: v South Australia, Adelaide
Nov. 17-20: v Australia A, Hobart
Nov. 25-29: First test, Brisbane
Dec. 3-7: Second test, Adelaide
Dec. 10-12: v Victoria, Melbourne
Dec. 16-20: Third test, Perth
Dec. 26-30: Fourth test, Melbourne
Jan. 3-7, 2011: Fifth test, Sydney
Jan. 10: v Prime Minister's XI, Canberra
Jan. 12: First Twenty20 international, Adelaide
Jan. 14: Second Twenty20 international, Melbourne
Jan. 16: First one-day international (ODI), Melbourne
Jan. 21: Second ODI, Hobart
Jan. 23: Third ODI, Sydney
Jan. 26: Fourth ODI, Adelaide
Jan. 30: Fifth ODI, Brisbane
Feb. 2: Sixth ODI, Sydney
Feb. 6: Seventh ODI, Perth
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