Vaughan shunned by England selectors

Michael Vaughan has been left out of England's Test squad for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies.

The former England captain had been tipped for a return to the squad with one eye on next summer's Ashes series against Australia.

But Vaughan, 34, has had no opportunity to find his form during the winter and so Owais Shah will challenge Ian Bell for the number three position in the Caribbean.

England's 16-man squad includes Ryan Sidebottom, who missed the India series with a side injury, and Yorkshire's uncapped leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

National selector Geoff Miller insisted Vaughan, who was controversially awarded a central contract, remains part of England's plans for this summer's Ashes.

Miller said: "Michael Vaughan has not yet had an opportunity to prove his form in order to be considered for selection for the Test side. He does, however, remain very much in our thoughts as we continue to plan for the npower Ashes Test series against Australia later this summer.

"He will play a full part in Yorkshire's pre-season programme which will include a tour to Dubai and we will continue to monitor his form closely once the domestic season begins in April."

Vaughan struggled for form last summer. He stepped down as England captain after averaging 16.75 in five Tests and he then scored just 43 runs in four innings for Yorkshire.

Vaughan asked not to be considered for the Test tour of India but he was unable to push his case for a recall when England's high performance tour was curtailed following the Mumbai terror attacks.

Nevertheless, he had been tipped for a recall after Bell again failed to establish his position at number three in the England batting order.

Bell is yet to score a Test century in the position and he has averaged just 20.2 in his last five games as England's number three.

The selectors have kept faith with Bell and Miller insisted: "You don't become a bad player overnight".

But there is a growing clamour for Shah, England's most consistent batsman during the one-day series in India, to be given an extended chance in the Test arena.

Sidebottom has been included in both the Test and one-day squads while the inclusion of Rashid, who took 62 county wickets last season, will put further pressure on Monty Panesar.

Graham Swann was England's form spinner in India but Rashid is a genuine all-rounder and his inclusion would strengthen England batting options.

"Despite losing the Test series in India 1-0, we felt the team performed creditably against strong opposition and all the players originally chosen for that series have been retained in the squad," Miller added.

"We are pleased to welcome Ryan Sidebottom back to both squads now that he is fully recovered from injury.

"Adil Rashid was added to the Test squad for the India tour and we have again included him in the party to tour West Indies. He is an exciting prospect for the future and his inclusion will enable us to continue to monitor his development closely as well as providing extra competition for places in the spin-bowling department."

Steve Harmison was dropped for the second Test in India but will return to the West Indies where, in 2004, he established himself as the best fast bowler in the world after taking seven wickets for 12 runs in a blistering spell at Sabina Park.

After the four-Test series, England play five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 fixture against the West Indies.

Hampshire all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas has returned to the England one-day squad, which also features the uncapped Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steven Davies for the first time.

Miller added: "Dimitri Mascarenhas has performed well for England before in the shorter form of the game and we feel that his experience will serve the team well in the Caribbean.

"Steven Davies had an excellent season for Worcestershire in both forms of cricket and is a young player of tremendous promise whose performances we have been monitoring for some time. This is an exciting opportunity for him and I am sure he will be keen to impress."

Kent captain Robert Key will lead the 14-man England Lions squad to New Zealand, where they will play two four-day matches, two one-day games and a Twenty20 fixture against New Zealand A.

England Test squad for tour of the West Indies:

Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire, capt), Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Steve Harmison (Durham), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Matt Prior (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire).

England One Day squad for tour of the West Indies:

Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire, capt), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Steven Davies (Worcestershire), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Steve Harmison (Durham), Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire), Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Matt Prior (Sussex), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire).

England Lions Squad:

Robert Key (Kent, capt), Gareth Batty (Worcestershire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Mark Davies (Durham), Steven Davies (Worcestershire)*, Joe Denly (Kent), Amjad Khan (Kent), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Stephen Moore (Worcestershire), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Luke Wright (Sussex).

* Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire) will replace Stephen Davies in the Lions squad following the conclusion of the Test Series in West Indies.

More to follow...