Trott gets England recall

Jonathan Trott has been named in the England Test squad for the first time since having to withdraw from the 2013-14 Ashes series with a stress-related condition.

The South Africa-born batsman, 34, was recalled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday as part of a 16-man party for a three-Test tour of the West Indies starting next month.

“Jonathan Trott produced some outstanding performances for Warwickshire last summer, scoring five centuries, and also made an unbeaten double-hundred during the recent successful England Lions tour,” national selector James Whitaker said in a statement.

“He is a player of proven international pedigree, and we are delighted to welcome him back into the squad.”

All-rounder Ben Stokes was also included, along with the uncapped trio of Durham fast bowler Mark Wood, Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid and Yorkshire opening batsman Adam Lyth.

Captain Alastair Cook returns as well, having been left out of the 50-over squad for the ongoing Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where England crashed out in the first round.

Eight of the players from the World Cup squad retained their places, but injured pair Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes were not included as they recover from respective side and foot problems.

Meanwhile, Whitaker played down the likelihood of Kevin Pietersen making an England comeback after he expressed a willingness to resume playing county cricket with a view to making a return to the international fold.

“That’s very much Kevin’s decision and, of course, we respect that,” Whitaker told Sky Sports News.

“But over the last 12 months, I think we have been successfully rebuilding our Test team and over the last few days, he wasn’t party to any discussion. He’s not part of our plans.”

England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett, Joe Root, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Mark Wood

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