LONDON, CMC – Michael Vaughan has failed in his bid to earn a recall, when he was excluded from England’s 12-member squad for the opening Test against West Indies, starting in a week’s time at Lord’s.
The former England captain has not played for England, since he stepped down from the post last August during the home series against South Africa.
Vaughan, aged 34, has endured a rocky start to the County Championship this season with his best being 82, and he’s been told that he needs to score more runs for Yorkshire before he can convince the selectors that he deserves a place.
Ian Bell and Owais Shah, two contenders for the pivotal No.3 spot, have also been omitted from the squad, and as a result, Ravi Bopara has been picked to fill it, following a maiden Test hundred against the same opponents in Barbados two months ago.
“The selectors felt that Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter,” said chairman of selectors Geoff Miller.
“There was a lot of competition for that batting position, but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level.”
The selectors have also chosen uncapped fast bowlers Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions as the choices to back-up James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
They have overlooked Steve Harmison after his disappointing trip to the Caribbean, and Andrew Flintoff is unavailable following knee surgery.
“This is very exciting for the two young fast bowlers to be included in the squad for a Lord’s Test match and sends a message to all county players that if they put in consistently good performances they will get recognised,” said Miller.
“Both have had good starts to this season and had been close to Test match selection on a number of occasions. They have earned their place in the party.”
One could miss the cut however, since the selectors have also named Graeme Swann – the leading bowler in the series in the Caribbean – along with Monty Panesar as the two spin options in the line-up.
Squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann
