Graeme Swann to make Test debut in India while Matt Prior returns by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	RT Ponting, KP Pietersen, SCJ Broad, RJ Sidebottom, SR Patel, MS Panesar, JM Anderson, SJ Harmison, A Khan, TR Ambrose, MJ Prior, GP Swann
Event:	England in India 2008/09

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DateLine: 10th December 2008

 

Matt Prior replaces Tim Ambrose as wicketkeeper, as expected. There is no place for young seamer Amjad Khan, with Steve Harmison and Jimmy Anderson to share the new ball.

 

The selection of Swann will give England an extra spin threat to complement Monty Panesar. Swann has fallen behind his Nottinghamshire team-mate Samit Patel in the one-day pecking order, but offers more variety with the ball in the longer format.

 

With Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad both injured, Pietersen has opted for a balanced attack which seems, on paper, to be superior to that which Australia took to India this autumn. Ricky Ponting's side paid a heavy price for their lack of an international-class slow bowler and were defeated 2-0.