London, Dec 10 : England has called up Graeme Swann and Matt Prior for the opening Test against India to be played in Chennai from Thursday.

Nottinghamshire off-spinner Swann will make his Test debut in place of the injured Stuart Broad, while Prior has been preferred to Tim Ambrose as wicketkeeper, The Times reported.

England's decision to partner Swann with Monty Panesar, his former Northamptonshire team-mate, represents a gamble against an India side renowned for their ability to play spin.

But captain Kevin Pietersen said the success of Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza, who claimed 12 wickets on his Test debut in Nagpur, convinced him that two spinners was the best way forward.

"It's a decision we have come to because we think the wicket could spin," Pietersen said. "We've had a look at it and it probably gives us our best and most attacking option."

"Graeme Swann has bowled absolutely fantastically leading up to this Test match and done a great job so it's a well-deserved debut. They are not bad players of spin but it''s pretty important we go in with two spinners. It doesn''t matter how good a player of spin you are, you still have to play well on the day," Pietersen said.

Pietersen said that Swann has been delighted by the news, but also said the selection had been one of the toughest he had made as captain.

Asked about the decision to recall Prior, who struggled for runs during the one-day series several weeks ago, Pietersen added: "I think Matty Prior gives us a much better option with the bat.

"I'm really keen on his batting and I think he's improved tremendously with his keeping so it's about time he gets a run as well. The one-day series was a tough tour for everybody. The four weeks we were out here was pretty tough and he is not the only one who has lost a bit of confidence over the last month." (ANI)