England announce squad for first Test

Injuries forced England to recall all-rounders Craig White and Dominic Cork as well as batsman John Crawley and fast bowler Simon Jones on Saturday to their squad for the first Test against India.

The England side have suffered three injury disappointments in the last 48 hours as selectors deliberated over the team for the Test starting on Thursday at Lord's.

In-form opener Marcus Trescothick broke his thumb, pace bowler Alex Tudor picked up a shin injury and front-line bowler Andrew Caddick suffered a setback in his bid to recover from a rib injury.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said John Crawley had come into the side for the first Test against Sri Lanka earlier in the season and had done well.

"There is no reason why he should be overlooked now as we want to be consistent in our selection policy," he said.

"The injury to Alex Tudor means that we need someone with batting capability in the number eight position. Depending on the balance of the side and the nature of the wicket, there could be an opportunity for either Dominic Cork or Craig White in this position."

Graveney said White's ability to reverse swing the ball when bowling could be an asset at Lord's if the wicket remained flat while Cork could be used if the wicket proved more friendly to seamers.

Jones has yet to win a cap but might be used for his extra pace, especially if Darren Gough fails to prove he is fit enough for a five-day match. Gough returned after surgery to play in the final one-day matches in the triangular series with Sri Lanka and India but has not yet been tested in an extended bowling spell.

India won a thrilling triangular final against England last Saturday.

The injury to Marcus Trescothick meant selectors had to re-adjust the batting order.

"Michael Vaughan will open the innings with Mark Butcher, preserving the right/left combination which has served us well in the past," Graveney said.

Squad:

Nasser Hussain (captain), Mark Butcher, Dominic Cork, John Crawley, Andrew Flintoff, Darren Gough, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones, Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, Michael Vaughan, Craig White.

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