Former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of several experienced players left out when a 12-man squad was announced today for next week's first Test against the West Indies at Lord's.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of several experienced players left out when a 12-man squad was announced today for next week's first Test against the West Indies at Lord's.
ADVERTISEMENT
Vaughan had been tipped for a return at No 3 in the batting order, having not played international cricket since resigning from the captaincy against South Africa last year.
But not only did he fail to make it into the squad but so too did two of his leading rivals for the No 3 role.
Owais Shah, who played in the last three Tests of this year's England tour of the West Indies, where the visitors lost the series 1-0, was omitted as was Ian Bell.
Meanwhile there was no place for inconsistent fast bowler Stephen Harmison.
Essex's Ravi Bopara, a 24-year-old all-rounder who could help balance the side in the absence of the injured Andrew Flintoff, is in line to bat at No 3 after hitting a hundred against the West Indies in Barbados last month.
Uncapped fast bowlers Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan were included in the squad, with the duo set to provide back-up to pace duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Bell, who has often flattered to deceive at Test level, pressed his claims for a recall by making the first County Championship hundred of the season, for Warwickshire against Somerset and also posting a one-day century against the west country side.
But Miller said Indian Premier League player Bopara, who made 104 in the last of his four Tests, against the West Indies in Barbados, had shown he had the character to succeed at international level.
"The selectors felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level.
"I think Ravi Bopara will bat three but that will be a decision for the captain (opening batsman Andrew Strauss) and the coach (Andy Flower)."
Vaughan has enjoyed success as a Test batsman but many observers feel his best days are behind him.
However, ahead of a busy home season which also includes the World Twenty20 and an Ashes series with Australia, Miller refused to call time on the Yorkshire strokeplayer's international career.
"Michael, we need to see him get a few more runs in county cricket. Ian Bell has had a tremendous start to the season but we need him to get even more passionate about getting into the side so when he does get back in, he doesn't lose his place again.
"It's a very, very long summer. There's a lot of cricket to be played and we've got to create a squad as opposed to a team."
As for Harmison, Miller said: "There's always a way back if Steve shows in county cricket what he is capable of doing. Bowling at the speed he can, he's a match for anybody in the world."
Yorkshire's Bresnan, 24, has played in five one-day internationals as well as a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka at Southampton in 2006 while the 26-year-old Onions, a county colleague of Harmison's, will be making his first appearance in an England Test squad.
"They've bowled well in the early part of the season," said Miller. "We've got two or three players who are going to be, at some stage, returning from injury and we need to see a strong back-up."
In recent years the England Test side, despite managing just four series wins since the 2005 Ashes, has often been criticised for being a "cosy club".
However, Miller said: "We've been designated as a 'closed shop' for a long time now but this just shows to county cricket that we are not a 'closed shop' and we are prepared to open it up.
"This is an exciting time for English cricket."
England's squad also includes two spinners in Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann but early season conditions at Lord's mean only one of them is likely to make it into the final XI.
The Lord's match is the first of a two-Test series. The second Test takes place at Durham's Riverside Ground from May 14-18.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
