Owais Shah has turned down the chance to make a big impression against South Africa's probable Test attack despite being one of several batsmen considered by England if they decide to change their top order during this summer's second series.

With captain Michael Vaughan once again having treatment on his fragile right knee and both Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood short of runs, an opportunity could present itself.

But the Middlesex player has decided to sit out his county's three-day game against South Africa at Uxbridge, believing a mid-season break will do him more good.

Shah was one of England's few successes during the recent one-day series defeat by New Zealand, looking in fine form while making two half-centuries as well as a rapid 49.

The 29-year-old missed out earlier this week, though, when he contributed only one and 12 to Middlesex's County Championship draw with Northants at Uxbridge.

And big runs in the first-class game are what Shah needs to put himself at the front of the Test queue, ahead of candidates like Ravi Bopara and Rob Key.

An eye-catching innings against South Africa, who were due to include fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini in today's team, could only have helped Shah in his bid to add to two Test caps.

Middlesex team-mate Andrew Strauss, meanwhile, asked to face the tourists at Uxbridge, hoping to get a good look at Steyn and Co before opening for England at Lord's next week.

As for South Africa, captain Graeme Smith was declared fit for the three-day game after recovering from a hamstring injury which, initially, looked as though it might keep him out of the First Test.

All-rounder Jacques Kallis, struck on the elbow when playing against Somerset last weekend, also made today's XI.

With Smith back at the top of the innings and Steyn replacing Andre Nel from the Somerset game, the tourists have named a side which, barring injuries, is likely to be picked at Lord's.

While Shah's next match will be Middlesex's Twenty20 Cup quarter-final against Lancashire on Tuesday, Key and Bopara are facing Friends Provident Trophy semi-finals for Kent and Essex respectively.

Key's Kent are at Chester-le-Street today, taking on holders Durham and attempting to reach their first Lord's final for 11 years.

Essex's meeting with Yorkshire at Chelmsford tomorrow presents an opportunity to bury the painful memories of last season's Trophy exit.

Bopara ended up missing the semi-final in Durham because of a thigh strain, then saw his team-mates crumble to 71 all out before mounting a miraculous though ultimately unsuccessful recovery.

Essex had Durham 38 for seven before spinner Danish Kaneria dropped a catch which enabled the eventual trophy winners to edge home by three wickets.

This year, Bopara almost single-handedly propelled Essex into the last four with an astonishing innings of 201 not out against Leicestershire.

The 23-year-old lit up last month's quarter-final with 10 sixes, and his fourth 50 came from just 16 balls.

Tomorrow, however, Bopara will come up against a Yorkshire team led by Darren Gough, who spent three seasons with Essex and is due to retire at the end of the summer.