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London - 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 the last three Tests of England's tour of the West Indies, was left out as was Ian Bell.
Meanwhile there was no place for inconsistent fast bowler Stephen Harmison.
Essex's Ravi Bopara, an 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.
"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 England national selector Geoff 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," the former England off-spinner explained.
Turning to Bopara, who made 104 in the last of his four Tests, against the West Indies in Barbados, Miller said: "The selectors also felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter.
"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 Lord's match is the first of a two-Test series against the West Indies. The second Test takes place at Durham's Riverside Ground from May 14-18.
England squad for the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's from May 6-10:
Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior (wkt), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Tim Bresnan, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Graham Onions
