Durham duo hot Ashes tips, Vaughan in cold

The Yorkshire batsman has not featured for his country since stepping down as England captain following the third Test against South Africa at Edgbaston last summer, although he has continually stated his desire to feature again in the Ashes.

England will name a 16- man squad for an Ashes training camp and the three-day warm-up match against Warwickshire, which will form the basis of their selections for the five-Test Ashes series starting in Cardiff on July 8.

National selector Geoff Miller is also due to announce the line-up to face Warwickshire at Edgbaston starting on July 1 and the Lions side to face Australia in a four-day match starting the same day.

If Vaughan fails to feature in that long list of names announced by Miller this lunchtime, it will be the clearest signal yet he is unlikely to force his way back into England’s plans this summer.

Since the start of this summer, Vaughan has hardly pressed his case for a recall after scoring only 159 firstclass runs at an average of 19.88 in six matches, with a top score of 43 against Worcestershire last week.

He has also suffered a recurrence of the knee problems which sidelined him for over a year and forced him to miss the recent championship match with Somerset.

Vaughan’s inclusion in the squad is one of a number of dilemmas facing the selectors.

They will also consider whether strike bowler Steve Harmison has done enough to warrant a recall.

Durham fast bowler Harmison has been overlooked this summer while England chose to look at county team-mate Graham Onions during the onesided Test series against West Indies.

H a r m i s o n has responded by claiming 30 champ i o n s h i p wickets in six matches, including 16 in the last two games against Lancashire and Warwickshire.

Harmison is expected to be included in the squad simply because there is no other bowler who can offer the pace and bounce he provides on form, even if he may struggle to break into the 13-man squad for the first Test, which is due to be announced on July 4.

He will be joined by left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, despite his struggles for Northamptonshire. He failed to make much of an impression at Cardiff last week, when he finished with two for 149 from 44 overs.

Panesar, now battling with emerging leg-spinner Adil Rashid for the second spinner’s role, has claimed only six wickets in six championship matches this summer at an alarming average of 86.67, although it is at a time of year not usually conducive to spin.

While he has struggled in championship cricket, however, Rashid has prospered after becoming a surprise replacement for Andrew Flintoff in the World Twenty20 tournament and could be a shock contender for an Ashes call.

‘‘He hasn’t played a Test yet so it would be a big ask, but I like him and like his bowling,’’ enthused coach Andy Flower.

‘‘He’s shown great skill and poise and he’s learnt a lot in the few games he’s played in the Twenty20 ‘‘We wanted to expose him in the West Indies (during the winter), but that never materialised, so getting the chance to do so here will have been very good for him.’’ Flintoff has now proved his fitness after two championship matches back with Lancashire and will also be included alongside Ryan Sidebottom, who has made his own recovery after an Achilles problem.

Another player facing a recall in the Ashes training squad is Ian Bell, who lost his place after the debacle in Jamaica last winter, and has failed to force his way back in, despite scoring consistently in first class cricket and averages 64.5.

Bell, Harmison and Panesar are unlikely to be included in the line-up to face Warwickshire, which will give a strong hint about England’s plans for the first Test.

Both Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan and Onions, who impressed against the West Indies, are expected to feature for the Lions against Australia to allow the return of Flintoff and Sidebottom to England’s line-up.