Broad, Collingwood back in England squad

LONDON (AP):

England included star batsman Kevin Pietersen despite his lack of recent match practice and recalled Stuart Broad and Paul Collingwood to their 12-man squad yesterday for the first Test against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Limited-overs specialist Eoin Morgan was retained, giving him another chance to further his credentials in the five-day format ahead of the Ashes series against Australia later this year.

Pietersen has not played a match since July 3 due to a thigh injury and was this week denied valuable time in the middle by his county side Hampshire, who left him out of the team to play Kent in a one-day match, after he said he would be leaving the club next season.

Pietersen, 30, is without a century in his past 12 Tests and endured a lean run in the one-day internationals this summer, averaging just 18.66 in six outings.

Paceman Broad and middle-order batsman Collingwood return after being rested for the Test series against Bangladesh, which England won 2-0 earlier this summer.

Morgan, who made scores of 44 and 37 in his first two Tests, was picked ahead of resurgent Essex batsman Ravi Bopara, while Ian Bell could not be considered after breaking a bone in his foot earlier this month.

Fast bowlers Steven Finn and Ajmal Shahzad also were kept on by selectors, but all-rounder Tim Bresnan and spinner James Tredwell were overlooked.

The four-test series against Pakistan, which begins with the opening match in Nottingham starting Thursday, is England's last before the team begins its defence of the Ashes in November.

Pakistan drew their series with Australia 1-1 after defeating Ricky Ponting's men by three wickets in the second Test at Leeds on Saturday.

England squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wicketkeeper), Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Ajmal Shahzad.