God I thought there might be some reaction to England naming their squad, Flintoff will tour as captain, unless he doesn't come through the ICC Trophy where he'll also be skipper. Giles, Anderson, Plunkett also make the squad despite injury doubts over all 3. England vowed not to make the same mistakes they did on the last tour but could history be repeating itself with these selections. If fit it's a strong enough squad, whether they're good enough to retain the Ashes is another story. And now I've just read Hoggard has been in hospital to have a check on a possible side strain, should be fine but will have an MRI tomorow.
Squad in full:
A Flintoff (captain, Lancashire, 62 Tests), A Strauss (Middlesex, 31 Tests), M Trescothick (Somerset, 76 Tests), A Cook (Essex, 9 Tests), K Pietersen (Hampshire, 18 Tests), I Bell (Warwickshire, 18 Tests), P Collingwood (Durham, 15 Tests), C Read (Nottinghamshire, 13 Tests), S Mahmood (Lancashire, 5 Tests), S Harmison (Durham, 45 Tests), M Hoggard (Yorkshire, 58 Tests), M Panesar (Northants, 10 Tests), G Jones (Kent, 31 Tests), A Giles (Warwickshire, 52 Tests), J Anderson (Lancashire, 13 Tests), L Plunkett (Durham, 6 Tests).