DOB:26.10.71 County:Essex Test debut: v India, Edgbaston, 1996 One-day international debut: v India, The Oval, 1996 Right arm batsman, right arm medium pace bowler

Even the most die-hard of Essex fans would have found it hard to believe Irani would claim a place in England's squad for the final Test of the summer.

Injuries to Craig White and Andrew Flintoff, however, mean this Lancastrian-born all-rounder gets his chance.

Cynics will point to the fact that he is one of captain Nasser Hussain's "mates."

But more considered observers will argue that he played with a lot of success in the one-day series earlier in the summer.