Ian Salisbury Photo © Paul McGregor David Graveney announces the England Touring party for Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and explains the selection of spinners and wicketkeepers

England today announced their Test and One-Day squads for this winter's tour of Kenya (ICC Trophy), Pakistan and Sri Lanka. (See below for squad lists)

The Surrey leg-spinner Ian Salisbury has been recalled to the Test squad after a two-year absence to fulfill spin-bowling duties alongside Warwickshire's Ashley Giles.

Kent wicket-keeper Paul Nixon is the only uncapped player named in the 16-man party which also features Yorkshire seamer, Matthew Hoggard.

The 14-man One-Day squad features all eleven players who featured in England's NatWest Series Final win over Zimbabwe this summer plus Mark Alleyne, Nick Knight and Ashley Giles.

The One-Day squad will leave for Kenya on September 28 to compete in the ICC Knock-out Trophy. Test players not included in the One-Day squad are scheduled to fly out to Pakistan on October 22.

England will play three One-Day Internationals and three Test Matches against Pakistan before returning home for a six week-break over Christmas and New Year. They are scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka on January 30 where they will play three Test Matches followed by three One-Day Internationals. The ten players who have been contracted by the ECB for both Test and One-Day Squads will be rested from County cricket between September 5th and September 28th. Players selected for either the Test or One Day squads will be free to play for their Counties between September 5 and the end of the domestic season.

The England 'A' team will be announced in due course once the arrangements for their proposed tour of the West Indies have been finalised. The ECB is currently considering an invitation from the WICB to enter the England 'A' side in the Busta Cup competition starting in January.

Announcing the squads, the Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: "Our decision to announce the touring parties ahead of the last Test match reflects the fact that we have played good cricket this summer and are developing a settled side.

"We were also keen to ensure that players chosen for the final Test at The Oval did not have to play with the added pressure of worrying about their tour place.

"The choice of spinners for the Test squad was a difficult one and involved the most discussion between the selectors. We have opted for Ian Salisbury and Ashley Giles because they are multi-dimensional cricketers who can contribute with the bat and in the field as well as with the ball.

"Both have enjoyed excellent seasons with their counties and been particularly effective in the second innings of matches when the pressure is often on slow bowlers to bowl teams out.

"Paul Nixon will be a great asset to the tour party as, in addition to being a fine wicket-keeper, he is a vibrant character. He will understudy Alec Stewart with the Test squad while Mark Alleyne will act as reserve wicket-keeper with the One-Day squad.

"We did consider both Chris Schofield and Chris Read for the senior tours this winter. But, on balance, we believe that if the England 'A' team's proposed participation in the Busta Cup goes ahead, this will provide a superb opportunity for our leading young cricketers to test themselves against high-class opposition in the Caribbean.

"With regard to ongoing fitness concerns, Andrew Flintoff has been chosen as an all-rounder and will be expected prove his fitness to bowl in Kenya. If he is not able to do so, he will be replaced by Alex Tudor for the Test series in Pakistan.

"Nick Knight is also due to undergo keyhole surgery on a knee injury this week but we expect him to be fully fit by the time the squad is due to depart for Kenya. We did not consider Stephen Harmison for the Test squad as he has been advised to rest this winter in order to recover from injury.

"In all, we have chosen squads to cover both tours and do not expect to make wholesale changes to the side between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, the conditions in Sri Lanka will be more conducive to spin bowling and we do reserve the right to make adjustments to the squad if we feel it is necessary."

England tour to Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka 2000/1

Test Squad

1. N Hussain (Captain) 28-03-68 Essex
2. MA Atherton         23-03-68 Lancashire
3. AR Caddick          21-11-68 Somerset
4. DG Cork             07-08-71 Derbyshire
5. A Flintoff          06-12-77 Lancashire
6. AF Giles            19-03-73 Warwickshire
7. D Gough             18-09-70 Yorkshire
8. GA Hick             23-05-66 Worcestershire
9. MJ Hoggard          31-12-76 Yorkshire
10. PA Nixon           21-10-70 Kent
11. IDK Salisbury      21-01-70 Surrey
12. AJ Stewart         08-04-63 Surrey
13. ME Trescothick     25-12-75 Somerset 
14. GP Thorpe          01-08-69 Surrey
15. MP Vaughan         29-10-74 Yorkshire
16. C White            16-12-69 Yorkshire

D Fletcher   - Head Coach
PA Neale     - Operations Manager
RMH Cottam   - Assistant Coach 
D Conway     - Physiotherapist
N Stockill   - Physiologist
M Ashton     - Scorer
A Walpole    - Media Relations Manager

1. N Hussain (Captain) 28-03-68 Essex
2. MW Alleyne          23-05-68 Gloucestershire
3. AR Caddick          21-11-68 Somerset
4. MA Ealham           27-08-69 Kent
5. A Flintoff          06-12-77 Lancashire
6. AF Giles            19-03-73 Warwickshire
7. D Gough             18-09-70 Yorkshire
8. GA Hick             23-05-66 Worcestershire
9. NV Knight           28-11-69 Warwickshire
10. AD Mullally        12-07-69 Hampshire
11. AJ Stewart         08-04-63 Surrey
12. ME Trescothick     25-12-75 Somerset
13. GP Thorpe          01-08-69 Surrey
14. C White            16-12-69 Yorkshire

D Fletcher    - Head Coach
PA Neale      - Operations Manager
MD Moxon      - Assistant Coach
D Conway      - Physiotherapist
N Stockill    - Physiologist
D Clarke      - Media Relations Manager
M Ashton      - Scorer