Moment of truth for England hopefuls

There are only two Test matches between now and the summer's main event, starting at Lord's on Wednesday April 6, and those given the chance to begin the international summer can take decisive steps to ensure they retain their places to face Australia.

Former captain Michael Vaughan is expected to have to wait in the wings for now, after failing to make a significant score to date. But the England hierarchy are keeping all doors open given the volume of international cricket this summer.

"It is no secret how much cricket we have got to play between now and the end of the summer," said national selector Geoff Miller.

"The players we pick now are not necessarily the ones we will use later because, as we all know, injuries and loss of form play a part throughout a season."

The selectors met on Tuesday to pick the 12-man first Test squad, with the number three position being contested between Ian Bell, 34-year-old Vaughan, Ravi Bopara and Owais Shah.

Warwickshire batsman Bell impressed the management with his fitness regime after being axed in the Caribbean and cracked the first County Championship hundred of the season upon his return, his 172 against Somerset at Taunton followed by another hundred against the same opposition in a one-day game.

Shah failed to take his opportunity after Bell was axed in the aftermath of the Jamaica Test defeat and has been sat kicking his heels in the Indian Premier League instead of churning out runs for Middlesex.

Andrew Flintoff's latest injury theoretically promotes Bopara's case to bat at number six, as he struck a hundred on Test return in Barbados last month and can supplement the seam attack with some medium pace.

However, six drawn Lord's Tests on the trot should encourage England to be bold and maintain a five-man attack.