London, April 29: Former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of several experienced players left out when a 12-man squad was announced on Wednesday for next week’s first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s.

Vaughan had been tipped for a return at No 3 in the batting order, having not played international cricket since resigning from the captaincy against South Africa last year.

But not only did he fail to make it into the squad but so too did two of his leading rivals for the No 3 role. Owais Shah, who played in the last three Tests of this year’s England tour of the West Indies, where the visitors lost the series 1-0, was omitted as was Ian Bell.

Meanwhile there was no place for inconsistent fast bowler Stephen Harmison. Essex’s Ravi Bopara, a 24-year-old all-rounder who could help balance the side in the absence of the injured Andrew Flintoff, is in line to bat at No 3 after hitting a hundred against the West Indies in Barbados last month.

Uncapped fast bowlers Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan were included in the squad, with the duo set to provide back-up to pace duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Bell, who has often flattered to deceive at Test level, pressed his claims for a recall by making the first County Championship hundred of the season, for Warwickshire against Somerset and also posting a one-day century against the west country side.

But Miller said Bopara had shown he had the character to succeed at international level.

— AFP