Udal and Loudon win England call

The England squads for the upcoming Test and ODI tours of Pakistan were announced today, with a mix of established names and surprises.

The 17-man party for the Test leg of the tour includes four uncapped faces alongside the twelve players who featured in this summer’s long-awaited Ashes success plus the two backup seamers, Chris Tremlett and James Anderson, who were named in the Test parties during the series.

The position of reserve wicket-keeper saw the first surprise selection, with Sussex’s Matthew Prior replacing Nottinghamshire gloveman Chris Read by virtue of his stronger batting, whilst James Foster once again misses out on International recognition.

The reserve spin options had provoked the most discussion nationwide prior to the selection meeting, with the names of Gareth Batty, Graeme Swann and Richard Dawson – the most recent occupants of the role of Ashley Giles’ backup – seen as the favourites to tour. Few expected the combination of Hampshire veteran Shaun Udal and Warwickshire youngster Alex Loudon to complete the seventeen.

Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, defended Udal’s selection with reference to the poor domestic performances of his younger rivals. “Without wishing to be too blunt, regrettably their performances during the summer have probably been disappointing for them. Shaun, by far, is the performing bowler at the present time.”

Udal, who played 10 ODIs more than a decade ago but has never played a Test match, has seen his career rejuvenated over the last two seasons at the Rose Bowl under the leadership of Australian Shane Warne, taking 36 wickets at a shade over 20 runs apiece this summer – with Muttiah Muralitharan the only spinner to perform better statistically – as well as contributing useful lower order runs.

Loudon has attracted much press coverage this summer as the only professional off-spinner in the country capable of bowling a “doosra” or “mystery ball”, as well as providing another middle order batting option behind Collingwood and Prior in the case of an injury crisis.

The one-day side sees Darren Gough missing out – of his own volition, a decision prompted by a desire to spend more time with his young family and one likely to spell the final end of his International career – with Jon Lewis also missing from this summer’s NatWest Series squad. Durham’s 20-year-old seamer Liam Plunkett wins his first International call into the party as England continue to assess their options in the run-up to the 2007 World Cup.

Plunkett is also featured, alongside Gareth Batty, Rikki Clarke, Chris Read and Robert Key, in an England Academy squad that mixes youth and experience. Middlesex duo Ed Joyce and Owais Shah are rewarded for prolific seasons with the bat whilst recent Essex success stories Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara – who shared a memorable stand against the Australians at Chelmsford this summer – are also called up.

The pace bowling department is heavily stacked with younger bowlers, with rapid Nottinghamshire left-armer Mark Footitt and fellow Under 19s Stuart Broad – son of former England opener Chris – and Tom Smith supporting his Lancashire team-mate Sajid Mahmood. Sussex pair Michael Yardy and Luke Wright provide all-round options alongside Middlesex’s James Dalrymple while Worcestershire’s Steven Davies will be the reserve wicketkeeper.

Test Squad
Michael Vaughan (capt, Yorkshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)
Ashley Giles (Warwickshire)
Steve Harmison (Durham)
Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)
Geraint Jones (wkt, Kent)
Simon Jones (Glamorgan)
Alex Loudon (Warwickshire)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Matthew Prior (wkt, Sussex)
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex)
Chris Tremlett (Hampshire)
Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)
Shaun Udal (Hampshire)

ODI Squad
Michael Vaughan (capt, Yorkshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)
Ashley Giles (Warwickshire)
Steve Harmison (Durham)
Geraint Jones (wkt, Kent)
Simon Jones (Glamorgan)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Matthew Prior (wkt, Sussex)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire)
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex)
Chris Tremlett (Hampshire)
Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)

Academy Squad
Gareth Batty (Worcestershire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Stuart Broad (Leicestershire)
Rikki Clarke (Surrey)
Alistair Cook (Essex)
James Dalrymple (Middlesex)
Steven Davies (wkt, Worcestershire)
Mark Footitt (Nottinghamshire)
Ed Joyce (Middlesex)
Robert Key (Kent)
Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Chris Read (wkt, Nottinghamshire)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Tom Smith (Lancashire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)
Michael Yardy (Sussex)