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The England selectors today announced a 16-man Test squad to be captained by Alastair Cook for the forthcoming four-Test match series in India. The squad includes two uncapped batsmen, Somerset's Nick Compton and Yorkshire's Joe Root, and three spin bowlers; Samit Patel, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann.

National Selector Geoff Miller said: "Nick Compton has performed well consistently for Somerset in County cricket this season, made big hundreds and shown that he has the temperament and the technique to play at a higher level.

"Joe Root is a player who has been successful at every level from County cricket through to EPP and England Lions, and he deserves this opportunity to step up to the next level and press his case for a place in the Test side."

Kevin Pietersen, who was omitted from England's last Test Match of the summer against South Africa, has not been included in the squad.

ECB Managing Director – England Cricket, Hugh Morris, added: "Both ECB and England team management have had meetings with Kevin Pietersen to address the issues which led to his omission from the final Investec Test match against South Africa.

"These discussions remain private and confidential and as there are issues still to be resolved Kevin has not been considered for selection for the India tour."

The selectors have also named a 17–strong England Performance Programme squad which will undertake a month-long tour of India from mid-November and a seven-strong squad for next month's Hong Kong Sixes tournament which will be captained by Leicestershire batsman Josh Cobb.

ECB Performance Director David Parsons said: "The England Performance Programme looks to identify and develop players that can go on to be world class cricketers for England in the future. This year, following a brief period of training at the National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough we have the opportunity to take players to the sub-continent to work on specific skills which will further their individual games.

"As in previous winters we will be shadowing the England team and their tour which is a model we have successfully used since 2006, providing England with a group of players that can be called upon should the need arise. The England Lions squad for the tour to Australia in February 2013 will be selected towards the end of this training camp in December."

England Test Squad to tour India

Alastair Cook (captain) Essex
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Nick Compton (Somerset)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Monty Panesar (Sussex)
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)