England batting contenders

Mark Ramprakash
Throughout his 22-year county career, Ramprakash has simply looked a class apart. Sadly, his Test statistics - an average of 27 in 52 matches - do not bear that out and England gave up on him more than seven years ago.

Ramprakash made his 108th first-class hundred a few days ago - his season aggregate is above 1,000 once again, and by common consent he has the best technique in the country.

Something, however, stopped him making the Test grade. Just because we still do not know what it was does not mean he is worth another punt at the age of 39.

Jonathan Trott
Easily the most likely if not necessarily the best, simply because England picked him for a possible debut at Headingley.

The selectors will not want to lay themselves open to accusations of muddled thinking by suddenly fast-tracking a new name past Trott, and they may feel a moral obligation too to the Warwickshire batsman, who is also a noted slip fielder.

Robert Key
Key always has his supporters on these occasions and is a veteran of England Lions squads.

The selectors have resisted the calls for his return several times, though, since the last of his 15 Tests in January 2005.

There have been reports that the Kent captain's relations with England's management have suffered, and the case for his inclusion this time is not as strong - on form - as it sometimes has been previously.

Marcus Trescothick
When England struggle, Trescothick's name always crops up as a potential solution.

However, the Somerset batsman is retired, apparently determined to stay so.

If Trescothick could be persuaded back, it would also disturb England's current opening partnership. But that minor complication, unlike his stress-related frailties, could be easily overcome.

Owais Shah
Another talented batsman who has been overlooked many more times than he has been included by England.

Shah's wristy and powerful strokeplay and unconventional footwork make him a major asset in all forms of one-day cricket, and his record in the longer form is largely enviable too.

The Middlesex batsman is thought unlucky to have played only six Tests by the age of 30, but it is highly unlikely England will see this as the right time to redress that perceived imbalance.

Michael Carberry
The 28-year-old Carberry is a player currently in the form of his life.

The left-hander's unbeaten hundred against an underwhelming Lancashire attack this past week took him past 1,000 runs for the season.

Hampshire's former Surrey and Kent opener is also an electric cover fielder.

He may be in the running for a return to one of his old haunts when the Lions take on Australia at Canterbury this weekend - but a Test debut back at The Oval is a fanciful notion.