Harmison and Panesar axed LONDON – Kevin Pietersen was Thursday included in England's one-day and Test squads for the tour of South Africa but warned he must prove his fitness before the one-day series starts on Nov. 20. The star batsman is still recovering from surgery on his achilles tendon, which he underwent in July. He is joined in both squads by another South African-born player, Jonathan Trott, who made a century on his Test debut in England's Ashes-winning victory over Australia at The Oval in August. Pietersen has yet to play a Test in his homeland but he made a big impression there in 2004-05, when he started his England career by making three hundreds in five One-Day Internationals, during which he was repeatedly booed by some of his compatriots. “Kevin Pietersen is making good progress with his recovery from surgery,” England selector Geoff Miller reported. “He will join up with the rest of the squad in South Africa following the first two Twenty20 Internationals and his fitness will be reassessed ahead of the one-day series.” There was no place in either squad for fast bowler Steve Harmison, who had indicated he would quit international cricket if he missed out, or for Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and Monty Panesar. Andrew Strauss will skipper both squads but all-rounder Paul Collingwood will be in charge for the two Twenty20 internationals that precede the one-day matches, despite currently being sidelined with a torn buttock muscle. The Test squad, missing Andrew Flintoff following his retirement, contains three uncapped players: Surrey wicketkeeper Steven Davies, Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid and the Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright. Essex opener Alastair Cook has been named as vice captain of the Test squad and has also been recalled to the one-day squad - at the expense of Bopara - together with Lancashire quick bowler Sajid Mahmood. Miller described Davies, who will act as understudy to Matt Prior, as a player of “great potential” and said Wright had the chance to fill Flintoff's boots. “The retirement of Andrew Flintoff has created a vacancy for an all-rounder in the squad and while we do not see Luke Wright as a like for like replacement for Andrew, we are excited by the way in which his all-round game continues to develop and believe he can make an impact at Test level,” Miller said. Test squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook (vice captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Steven Davies, Graham Onions, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright. One-Day squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Joe Denly, Sajid Mahmood, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright. England to begin Ashes defense in Brisbane England will be begin its defense of the Ashes in Brisbane in November next year in the first Test of a five-match series, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia said Wednesday. The series kicks off at The Gabba from Nov. 25 to 29 followed by Tests in Adelaide and Perth. The traditional Boxing Day Test at Melbourne is next, with Sydney's New Year's test completing the series. The schedule for the one-day series will be released separately at a later date.
