England recall White and Cork

London, July 20: All-rounders Craig White and Dominic Cork were included in England's 13-man squad announced Saturday for the first Test of four against India starting here at Lord's on July 25.

The pair owe their recall to the fact that Surrey fast bowler Alex Tudor withdrew Friday because of shin splints.

Another contender for a fast bowling berth, with Andrew Caddick (rib injury) also sidelined, is Glamorgan's uncapped Simon Jones, who was named in the squad for the third Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford.

Caddick's Somerset colleague Marcus Trescothick was another player ruled out earlier this week when he sustained a fractured thumb fielding against Worcestershire in a Trophy quarter-final.

The opening batsman's injury led England to delay their scheduled Thursday squad announcement and in a new look batting line-up there could be a place for John Crawley, who retains his squad spot from Old Trafford.

England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said: "John Crawley came into the side for the first Test against Sri Lanka and acquitted himself well.

"There is no reason why he should be overlooked now as we want to be consistent in our selection policy," explained Graveney no doubt trying to deflect criticism over the non-selection of talented Warwickshire youngster Ian Bell.

Looking at England's bowling, Graveney added: "The injury to Alex Tudor means that we need someone with batting capability in the number eight position.

"Depending on the balance of the side and the nature of the wicket, there could be an opportunity for either Dominic Cork or Craig White in this position.

"Craig played well in India in the winter, making his first Test hundred, and although he had a few injuries that affected his bowling, he is now back to fitness and bowling well again.

"We feel his ability to reverse swing the ball could be useful if the Lord's wicket is as flat as it was against Sri Lanka whilst Dominic will give us another option if the wicket is more seamer-friendly.

"Simon Jones is also an option for us as he has express pace and has been bowling well for Glamorgan in recent weeks.

"The injury to Marcus Trescothick means that we will have to readjust our batting order and Michael Vaughan will open the innings with Mark Butcher - preserving the right/left combination which has served us well in the past.

"We have had some injury problems ahead of this match - but we are fully aware of how important it is to start this Test series well as this is an area we have sometimes fallen down on previously."

In the three match series against Sri Lanka England won 2-0.

England squad:

Nasser Hussain (Essex, capt), Mark Butcher (Surrey), Dominic Cork (Derbyshire), John Crawley (Hampshire), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Darren Gough (Yorkshire), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Simon Jones (Glamorgan), Alec Stewart (Surrey, wkt), Graham Thorpe (Surrey), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire), Craig White (Yorkshire).