London: Monty Panesar has been named in England's squad for the Ashes series in Australia despite recently being busted by police for drunk and disorderly conduct.
The spinner was released by county club Sussex after being fined by police for urinating in public following his ejection from a nightclub, and he has not played for England since the incident.
Gary Ballance, Yorkshire's Zimbabwe-born batsman, is the most surprising selection in England's squad to defend the Ashes in Australia.
England national selector Geoff Miller says Panesar "is very sure those errors are behind him now and he is very prepared to let his bowling do the talking for him so I am prepared to accept that."
Also in the 17-man squad chasing a fourth consecutive Ashes success are bowler Boyd Rankin and allrounder Ben Stokes, who have yet to play test cricket.
Squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wk), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Monty Panesar, Gary Ballance, Michael Carberry, Boyd Rankin, Steven Finn, Ben Stokes, Chris Tremlett.