Owais Shah was in better form in the summer

Ramprakash was understandably disappointed.

The Surrey batsman said: "I enjoyed the Zimbabwe tour, but I don't think I did myself justice.

Missed opportunities

"In the fourth and fifth matches I had an opportunity to make some runs and I didn't do that and we will just have to see how the squad goes.

"Duncan (Fletcher) and Nasser have spoken about the balance they want to get, and Duncan wants to press ahead with a youth policy by giving opportunities and blooding young players.

"There's some very talented young players in there like Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff and they're playing extremely well."

Trio back from injury

Batsman Michael Vaughan and slow bowler Ashley Giles return from injury, as does Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White.

In the seam bowling department, the impressive Matthew Hoggard - as expected - is retained, though James Kirtley has not done quite enough to force himself into the squad.

Kirtley said that he was not surprised to be left out, given the depth of experience returning to the bowling corps.

Darren Gough cannot force his way into the Test side

"Gough, Caddick and White are all experienced bowlers," he said.

"I couldn't expect to be up there with them yet."

Action not connected

And chairman of selectors David Graveney confirmed the Sussex man's omission was "wholly unrelated" to him being reported in Zimbabwe for a suspect bowling action.

"He remains very much part of our future plans," said Graveney.

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said Ramprakash was the most obvious casualty.

He went on: "They've stuck with Owais Shah who faced just two balls in Zimbabwe but showed great promise last summer."

Agnew said the omission of Hick was the only surprise. "It's very much a future-looking selection," he said.

Only five players who travelled to Zimbabwe - in what was described as an experimental squad - have failed to retain their places.

Squad: N Hussain (Essex, capt), A Caddick (Somerset), P Collingwood (Durham), A Flintoff (Lancashire), J Foster (Essex), A Giles (Warwickshire), D Gough (Yorkshire), M Hoggard (Yorkshire), B Hollioake (Surrey), N Knight (Warwickshire), O Shah (Middlesex), J Snape (Gloucestershire), G Thorpe (Surrey), M Trescothick (Somerset), M Vaughan (Yorkshire), C White (Yorkshire).