England's selectors can afford to overlook one of the successes of the summer from the squad for this winter's five-Test series in South Africa.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney will unveil the 16-man squad at Lord's today and one of the batsmen used this summer will be left behind as England attempt to claim their first series success in South Africa for 40 years.

With only seven batsmen likely to be chosen, including all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, it leaves Mark Butcher, Robert Key and Ian Bell fighting for two places.

All three have put forward compelling cases, with Butcher averaging over 40 in the last three years since reclaiming his place. But he missed the series against West Indies with a variety of injury complaints and in his absence younger players have performed.

Kent's Key marked his return with a double century against West Indies at Lord's and played a major role in clinching victory at Old Trafford with an unbeaten 93, which demonstrated composure, resilience and an ability to play at the highest level.

With Graham Thorpe suffering a finger injury to rule him out of the final Test at the Oval, that presented Warwickshire's Ian Bell with an opportunity.

He continued his prolific form at county level to score 70 and rescue England from a perilous 64 for three.

It leaves the selectors with the type of tough decision that only applies with a successful team and will no doubt have been welcomed by Graveney, coach Duncan Fletcher and other selectors Rod Marsh and Geoff Miller.

''Headaches are fantastic to have and I'm sure the selectors would say exactly the same,'' revealed captain Michael Vaughan.

''The more we have to pick from the better it is for us.

''These young guys have made the selectors' job very difficult but it's a lot better when it's difficult than when it's easy.

"Andrew Strauss, Key and Bell have all looked Test match quality and the pleasing factor for me is the way they've taken their county form into the international game.

''Over the last few years guys haven't quite been able to do that and I don't know what that was, but that's the most pleasing aspect. They have come into the dressing room and taken it really as just another game and that's very important.''

Bell is the most likely to miss out and may be compensated with a place in the one-day squad to be chosen following the ICC Champions Trophy campaign, although he will almost certainly be placed on stand-by for injuries.

That does not bode well for Durham's Paul Collingwood, who played in two Tests in Sri Lanka last winter.

With the new batch of central contracts due to be announced, Collingwood's is unlikely to be renewed, although he remains a key member of the one-day squad.

The identity of the reserve wicketkeeper will also have provided a lively topic of discussion following Chris Read's angry response to being dropped as both England's Test and one-day gloveman over the last six months.

Read accepted losing his place in the Test team to Geraint Jones after contributing just 36 runs in the first three Tests in the Caribbean.

But he was angry after also losing his place in the limited overs format, particularly after a number of impressive displays down the order in the West Indies.

He would be the natural choice on wicketkeeping ability alone, but clearly coach Fletcher does not believe he is the right character to carry England forward.

That may present a further opportunity to Essex's James Foster or a first senior tour for uncapped Sussex youngster Matt Prior.

The choice of the understudy bowler, which normally goes to a younger bowler to allow them to develop under Troy Cooley's guidance during the tour, is equally complicated because leading candidates have either lost form or suffered injuries recently.

Worcestershire's Kabir Ali, who was called into the Champions Trophy squad recently, is struggling with injury, which could allow Lancashire seamer Sajid Mahmood's call-up.

Possible squad: MP Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), ME Trescothick (Somerset), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), MA Butcher (Surrey), RWT Key (Kent), GP Thorpe (Surrey), A Flintoff (Lancashire), GO Jones (Kent, wkt), CMW Read (Nottinghamshire, wkt), AF Giles (Warwickshire), GJ Batty (Worcestershire), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire), SP Jones (Glamorgan), SJ Harmison (Durham), JM Anderson (Lancashire), SI Mahmood (Lancashire)