Ashes 2013: Who is Simon Kerrigan? After uncapped Test spinner called up for England squad for fifth Ashes Test

All the information you need ahead of Test debut for the spinner

Simon Kerrigan could win his first Test cap against Australia in the fifth Test at The Oval (GETTY IMAGES)

Who is Simon Kerrigan?

He is a Lancashire off-spinner, he is 24 years old. His nickname is Keggsy and his star sign is Taurus.

Comprehensive. Where has he come from?

He has been in and around Lions squads for the last couple of years and has bowled to the first team in nets sessions. Most recently he played for England Lions in the two-day match at Northamptonshire against Australia, which ended in a draw. He took one wicket for 66 runs.

So was he the star bowler of that match then?

Erm, no. Benjamin Stokes took two for 27. But the conditions at the Oval will suit a spinner, according to the selectors, so Kerrigan was the obvious choice.

But surely there are other, more experienced spin bowlers around the place? Monty Panesar, f’rinstance?

Apart from the fact Panesar may still be in the doghouse for peeing on a bouncer the other week, Kerrigan is one of the best-performing twirlers in the County game. He has taken 47 wickets this season for Lancashire, albeit in Division Two.

Fair enough. What do others say about him?

His coach at Lancashire, Peter Moores, described a spell late in the title-winning 2011 season, when Keggsy took nine wickets against Hampshire to keep alive their championship hopes, as “world class”. But former Wisden editor Scyld Berry says he is a “left-armer of energetic action, but no batsman”.

No batsman? Pah. Neither is Monty.

Quite.