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Stuart Broad called up for first Test at Lord's against India

Uncapped pace bowler Stuart Broad was called up yesterday into England's 13-man squad for the first cricket Test against India starting at Lord's on Thursday.

Broad, 21, was included after fast bowler Stephen Harmison was rated "extremely doubtful" on Saturday for the opening match of a three-Test series after suffering a recurrence of a hernia injury while playing for Durham.

Leicestershire's Broad, the son of former England opening batsman Chris, has played nine one-day internationals but has yet to play in a Test.

He was included along with Lancashire quick James Anderson, the pair set to compete for the final place in England's starting side if, as expected, Harmison is unfit.

England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said: "Stephen Harmison's hernia problem will be re-assessed by our medical team when the team reports for the first Test on Monday evening."

Harmison bowled just five overs on Friday in Durham's ongoing match away to county champions Sussex before being ruled out of the remainder of the game.

The 28-year-old originally sustained the injury at his Riverside home ground nearly a month ago during England's fourth Test win over the West Indies which gave them a 3-0 series victory.

However, he opted against immediate surgery after being advised he could play in the India series and Durham's Friends Provident Trophy final against Hampshire on August 18 -- the county's first senior Lord's final.

The 1.98m Broad played against India for England Lions, the national "A" side, in a three-day match which concluded at Chelmsford, yesterday.

"Test cricket is the ultimate goal which every cricketer aspires to," Broad said. "I suppose a bit of the pressure is off. That is the great thing about "A" tours and national academies. I'm just looking forward to it and linking up with the squad."

Monty Panesar is the only specialist spinner in the 13, and the selectors have stuck with opener Andrew Strauss despite his poor form against West Indies. There was no recall for Marcus Trescothick.

England squad:

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Alastair Cook (Essex), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Matthew Prior (Sussex, wk), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Stuart Broad (Leicestershire).
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