Controversial spinner Monty Panesar was given a chance to revive his England career after being named in a 17-man squad for the forthcoming Ashes tour of Australia on Monday.
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 against arch-rivals Australia.
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 August 5 and then effectively sacked by south coast county Sussex.
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, which England won 3-0, at The Oval in south London, strengthened Panesar’s case for a recall. England are due to arrive in Perth on October 25, with the first Test due to start at Brisbane’s Gabba ground on 21 November.