Patel in for England

Samit Patel was brought into the England side to face Australia on Saturday Samit Patel was brought into the England side to face Australia on Saturday

Samit Patel came in for his first match of the NatWest Series as England bolstered their batting in the absence of the rested Graeme Swann.

All-rounder Patel was named, rather than Swann's fellow off-spinner James Tredwell, in the fourth match of the series against Australia at Chester-le-Street.

Patel's inclusion was one of two changes to England's winning team as they eye an unassailable 3-0 lead, with James Anderson returning after his groin injury.

Australia made two changes too, preferring seam to spin.

James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus came in for Mitchell Johnson and slow left-armer Xavier Doherty.

Play was set to get under way on time, despite the welter of rain which hit the north-east on Friday night - and after Alastair Cook won the toss, he unsurprisingly chose to bowl first under cloudy skies.

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