Panesar gets Ashes recall, Ballance, Stokes, Rankin set to make Test debut

England have given controversial spinner Monty Panesar a chance to revive his international career after he was named in a 17-man squad for the forthcoming Ashes tour of Australia.

According to Sport24, England also selected the uncapped trio of Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance, Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes and former Ireland seamer Boyd Rankin for a tour where they will bid to win a fourth straight Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia, something they last achieved in the 19th Century.

Otherwise a squad again captained by Alastair Cook contained few surprises, with England again relying on the bulk of the side that completed a 3-0 home Ashes win over Australia last month, the report said.

Panesar has long been regarded as England's second-best spinner behind off-break bowler Graeme Swann, the report added.

Hampshire's Michael Carberry was chosen ahead of Somerset's Nick Compton as an extra batsman with Stokes displacing all-rounder Chris Woakes, who played in the Ashes finale at The Oval, the report further said.

Meanwhile Surrey fast bowler Chris Tremlett, who impressed during England's 3-1 2010/11 Ashes win in Australia, was given one of the seam bowling slots in preference to Graham Onions, who has been a mainstay of county champions Durham's attack this season, according to the report.

Yorkshire pace-bowling all-rounder Tim Bresnan was not part of the official party but is set to travel with the squad to Australia as he continues his recovery from the back injury that saw him ruled out of the fifth Test, the report mentioned.

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