Kevin Petersen has been included in England's squad for the third Ashes Test against Australia despite ongoing concerns over a calf injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced. He is to be given longer to prove his fitness for the match at Old Trafford, which begins on Thursday, but Nottinghamshire's James Taylor has been brought into a 14-man squad as cover.
England have also made changes to their bowling options by bringing in a second spinner in Monty Panesar as well as recalling the fast bowler Chris Tremlett in place of Steven Finn and Graham Onions.
Petersen was injured in the second Test victory at Lord's last week and could not field in the second innings. Taylor emerged as his most likely possible replacement this week when the ECB requested that he played as a guest for Sussex in their tour match against the Australians at Hove.He responded with an unbeaten 64 on the second day.
Taylor played two Tests against South Africa last summer but was overlooked for the winter tours of India and New Zealand, falling behind the likes of Joe Root and Nick Compton in the pecking order.
Panesar has been included in the squad alongside Graeme Swann due to Old Trafford's reputation for spin, which has endured despite being off the Test rota for three years because of extensive ground redevelopment. The Sussex left-armer has not played a home Test since Australia's last visit four years ago but has featured nine times overseas in recent years.
Surrey's Tremlett is recalled after 18 months away from the Test scene. Finn played in the first Test at Trent Bridge but was left out at Lord's as Tim Bresnan was brought in. Onions was a non-playing member of the squad for the opening two matches.
England can secure the series victory, and retain the Ashes, with a third straight win in Manchester.
The national selector, Geoff Miller, said: "Kevin Petersen is continuing his recovery from a calf strain and he will be assessed by the medical team closer to the start of the Test, and we have therefore included an extra batsman in James Taylor who has been in good form for Nothinghamshire this season.
"Chris Tremlett has worked hard to regain fitness and form following a couple of injuries and his performances for Surrey this season have been very encouraging. Including an additional spinner in Monty Panesar, who has plenty of international experience, provides Alastar Cook [the captain] and Andy Flower [team director] with a number of options."
England edged a thrilling match by 14 runs at Trent Bridge before winning by a convincing 347-run margin at Lord's. Those successes have put England in sight of a fourth series victory over Australia in five meetings, but Miller insists there is no room for complacency.
He said: "The players worked hard at Trent Bridge and Lord's to get into a very good position in this Ashes Series but will be fully aware that there is still a great deal of cricket left in the series.
"The players have had some time this week to recover following back-to-back Tests and an opportunity to work on aspects of their game and they will arrive in Manchester determined to build on their performances over the last two Tests."
England squad to face Australia in the third Test at Old Trafford
AN Cook (capt), JE Root, IJL Trott, KP Petersen, IR Bell, J.M Bairstow, JWA Taylor, MJ Prior (wkt), TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, MS Panesar, CT Tremlett.