Panesar gets England recall for Ashes

England cricketer Monty Panesar takes part in a training session at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 31, 2013. 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. (AFP/File)

LONDON (AFP) – Controversial spinner Monty Panesar was given a chance to revive his England career after being named Monday 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 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 November 21.

Squad

Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wkt), Matt Prior (Sussex, wkt), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Monty Panesar (Essex), Michael Carberry (Hampshire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Chris Tremlett (Surrey)

Fixtures

Oct 25: England arrive, Perth

Oct 31-Nov 02: Three-day warm-up v Western Australia, WACA, Perth

Nov 06-09: Four-day warm-up v Australia A, Blundstone Arena, Hobart

Nov 13-16: Four-day warm-up v v New South Wales XI, Sydney Cricket Ground

Nov 21-25: 1ST TEST, The Gabba, Brisbane

Nov 29-30: Two-day warm-up v Chairman's XI, Traeger Park, Alice Springs

Dec 05-09: 2ND TEST, Adelaide Oval

Dec 13-17: 3RD TEST, WACA, Perth

Dec 26-30: 4TH TEST, Melbourne Cricket Ground

Jan 03-07: 5TH TEST, Sydney Cricket Ground

One-day international series

Jan 12: 1ST ODI, Melbourne Cricket Ground

Jan 17: 2ND ODI, Gabba, Brisbane

Jan 19: 3RD ODI, Sydney Cricket Ground

Jan 24: 4TH ODI, WACA, Perth

Jan 26: 5TH ODI, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Twenty20 international series

Jan 29: 1ST T20, Blundstone Arena, Hobart

Jan 31: 2ND T20, Melbourne Cricket Ground

Feb 02: 3RD T20, Stadium Australia, Sydney