Vaughan left out in the cold by England

Former captain among the big names missing from England's Test squad

The England selectors shook up the national side yesterday, leaving a few members of the previously cosy club in the cold and inviting in some new faces for the squad that will take on West Indies at Lord's in the first Test which starts next Wednesday.

There was no recall for Michael Vaughan, the previous captain who had been touted to return, but Ian Bell, who has had a smashing start to the domestic summer with Warwickshire, was not the lucky recipient of a phone call either. The Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara, currently earning some cash in South Africa in the Indian Premier League, is the man who looks like being handed the chance to bat at No 3 and make the position his own for England's busy Test summer, which culminates in an Ashes series.

Owais Shah was the incumbent but he failed to take his chance in the recent series in the Caribbean and has also been left out of the squad all together.

A further notable absentee is Stephen Harmison, who looked like he may be given yet another chance following the withdrawal of Andrew Flintoff, as he is the only other English bowler who provides bounce and out and out pace. But the selectors want him to prove himself all over again and have instead handed call-ups to the uncapped duo of 26-year-old pace bowler Graham Onions of Durham and Tim Bresnan, 24, the Yorkshire all-rounder.

Onions, who bowls right arm at around 80-85mph, celebrated in style yesterday by taking six wickets in a County Championship game against Somerset. Bresnan is more medium pace but nibbles the ball around and is a useful lower-order batsman.

National Selector, Geoff Miller, stressed yesterday that all those disappointed players could still be in contention later in the summer.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans
What's wrong with Rory?

What's wrong with Rory?

Is the trouble with the defending US Open champion in his head, in his swing, with his girlfriend – or is it all in the minds of others?