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Cricket

Shah "shocked" at England Test call-up

29/09/2008

Middlesex batsman Owais Shah revealed he was surprised to get called-up to the England Test squad for the tour to India.

The29-year-old edged-out Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara in the battle to replace former captain Michael Vaughan in the squad. Bopara was selected in the squad for the final Test of the summer against South Africa, but it is Shah who will go to India after national selector Geoff Miller said he thought Shah was a better player of spin than Bopara.

Shah showed his credentials as someone who can perform in the sub-continent when he scored 88 and 33 in his debut Test match against the Indians back in 2006. But the experienced right-hander, who made his international debut in 2001, was still "shocked" to make the squad.

"I was kind of surprised really," Shah told Sky Sports. "I got a phone call from Geoff Miler this morning saying I was selected and I was a bit shocked. I wasn't expecting it but I'm very pleased that I've been selected to go to India as part of the Test team.

"I had a reasonable Test match (in 2006). I quite enjoyed the challenges of the sub-continent. Obviously you've got the spin bowlers over there being very good in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

"The conditions are also quite tough. It's very warm out there and you have to take plenty of fluids on board. I was subject to a lot of cramps the last time I played there."

Shah had a good season with Middlesex, scoring 894 runs in 12 county championship matches at an average of 42.57. He also cemented his place in the England one-day squad during the memorable 4-0 win over South Africa.