England skipper Alastair Cook would be having plenty of bowling options when the hosts face Australia in the 1st Ashes Test in Cardiff, starting July 8.
The English selectors have included leg-spinner Adil Rashid in the squad, while pacer Steven Finn has also made into the 13-member squad for the series opener.
England, however, have Moeen Ali in the squad so seeing the hot weather Cook might consider playing two spinners at the Sophia Gardens.
Ian Bell, meanwhile, would be playing his seventh successive Ashes series, while Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Gary Ballance, Rashid and Adam Lyth would be aiming for Ashes series debut.
“There are no huge surprises in the squad. Adil Rashid’s inclusion provides Alastair and Trevor with plenty of bowling options and the surface at Cardiff will dictate who makes the final XI,” National selector, James Whitaker, said.
“Within the squad there are players who have plenty of experience of Ashes cricket and that knowledge will I’m sure be useful for the players who are yet to experience a home Ashes series.
“There has been some very good cricket played so far this summer and we are aware that we will need to build on that over the next seven weeks if we are to win back the Ashes.
“On behalf of the selectors I’d like to congratulate the 13 players selected for the first Investec Test and wish them as well as Trevor all the very best for what will I’m sure be a very competitive and entertaining series.”
England squad for 1st Ashes Test: Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Balance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.
