Knight replaces Hussain

Warwickshire left-hander Nick Knight was rewarded on Sunday for his impressive early-season form with a recall to the England team.

Knight replaces injured captain Nasser Hussain in the squad for the second and final test against Pakistan starting at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Hussain broke his right thumb trying to avoid a bouncer from Shoaib Akhtar in the first test and is out of all cricket for the next month.

Pace bowler Matthew Hoggard, who is fit again after injuring his back, replaces his Yorkshire team mate Ryan Sidebottom who made his debut in the first test victory at Lord's.

Sidebottom failed to take a wicket in the match, which England won inside three days by an innings and nine runs.

Knight has not played for England since breaking his right index finger in the momentous victory over West Indies at Lord's last year. He has been in prolific form this season, averaging more than 50 in the county championship.

Although he opens in one-day international cricket, Knight will bat down the order if he makes the final XI.

Glamorgan off-spinner Robert Croft, omitted at Lord's, has been retained in the squad but could be left out again.

Only one day's cricket has been possible at Manchester's Old Trafford this season after an exceptionally wet spring and England could again opt to play all their batsmen and rely on Michael Vaughan to provide any off-spin that is needed.

The side will be captained by Alec Stewart, who led England after Michael Atherton resigned in 1998. Stewart was in turn replaced by Hussain after England's unimpressive performance at the 1999 World Cup.

England - Michael Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Graham Thorpe, Ian Ward, Nick Knight, Alec Stewart (captain), Dominic Cork, Robert Croft, Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard.

Mail Cricket Editor