• England v Australia, 2nd Investec Test, Lord's

Tremlett trains with England

George Dobell
July 16, 2013
Steven Finn suffered at the hands of Brad Haddin in Australia's fourth-innings © PA Photos
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If Steven Finn required any reminder that his place in the England side was in jeopardy, he received it with the sight of Chris Tremlett joining the England squad for training at Lord's on Tuesday.

While Tremlett has not been called into the England squad, his appearance did underline his continuing interest to the selectors and was another step towards a potential return. Tremlett last played for England in the UAE in January 2012 but was forced home from that tour through injury. Since then he has twice undergone surgery and, after a modest start to the season with Surrey, has just started to bowl at something approaching his best form.

Finn endured a chastening final day of the Trent Bridge Test. Trusted to bowl only 10 overs in Australia's second innings - that is three fewer than James Anderson bowled in one spell on the final day - Finn was hit out of the attack in two overs on Sunday and missed a tricky, but potentially crucial, chance in the field.

Monty Panesar, the Sussex left-arm spinner, and Ben Stokes, the Durham allrounder, also trained with the England squad on Tuesday, with Tremlett bowling Jonathan Trott in the nets. The nephew of Bermuda's Dwayne Leverock, Kamau, who is currently playing with Horsham, was also involved.

It might be wrong to read too much into the appearance of any of the three players. None of them are currently required by their county sides while others jostling for England places, the likes of Warwickshire's Boyd Rankin and Kent's James Tredwell, are currently involved in games. It was also an optional net, with only Finn, of the England bowlers utilised at Trent Bridge, opting to bowl.

George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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