By IANS,
London : Eoin Morgan’s superb performance in the World Twenty20 has earned him a place in the England squad for the first Test against Bangladesh at Lord’s from Thursday.
Paul Collingwood and Stuart Broad have been rested for the two-Test series. Collingwood injured his left shoulder during the World Twenty20 and is to undergo treatment while Broad has been given a “strengthening programme” to build him up for the months ahead, according to The Guardian Sunday.
Middlesex batsman Morgan, who played a crucial role in England’s triumphant Twenty20 campaign, is joined in the squad by his county colleague Steve Finn, while Yorkshire’s Ajmal Shazhad is in line for his first Test appearance.
England national selector Geoff Miller, said: “Eoin Morgan has impressed everyone since his inclusion in England’s One-day squad and he now has the opportunity to play a role in the Test team. He has always held ambitions of playing across all forms of the game and we believe he has earned his place in this Test squad.
“We were encouraged by Steven Finn’s Test debut in Bangladesh during the winter and he has had a fine start to the domestic season for Middlesex,” he added.
“He is aware of what is involved at the international level and along with Ajmal Shazhad, who has also made a bright start to the County season after touring Bangladesh over the winter, offers us a great deal of depth in the bowling ranks.”
Miller said that the absence of Collingwood and Broad will provide opportunity for a number of younger players to make a mark at Test level.
“Paul will undergo a period of rehabilitation for a shoulder injury and has been ruled out of the Test series against Bangladesh. There’s a need for Stuart to undertake an intensive strengthening programme ahead of an arduous summer and a busy winter and the next three weeks have been identified as the ideal period for this programme.”
England squad:
Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Ajmal Shazhad, Graeme Swann, Jonathon Trott.