England call Panesar into Ashes squad

LONDON: Spinner Monty Panesar was yesterday given a chance to revive his England career after being named in a 17-man squad for the forthcoming Ashes tour of Australia.

England also selected uncapped trio of Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance, Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes and former Ireland seamer Boyd Rankin for a tour where they they will bid to win a fourth straight Ashes series.

Panesar has long been regarded as England’s second-best spinner behind off-break bowler Graeme Swann.

However, the 31-year-old Panesar was fined by police for urinating in public after he was ejected from a Brighton nightclub on Aug 5.

He has though since played for Essex on loan while the woeful Test debut of Lancashire left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan in the drawn final match of the recent Ashes series strengthened Panesar’s case for a recall.