BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Key shapes up for England

Robert Key believes he owes his England call-up to a lecture from Alec Stewart and a lot of hard work at the National Academy.

Kent opener Key and Durham pace bowler Steve Harmison, both 23, are the new names in England's 13-man squad for the second Test against India.

"I used to enjoy myself having winters off and spending time with my friends and my cricket was suffering before Alec Stewart spoke to me," Key told BBC Radio's Test Match Special.

"He gave me a kick in the right direction.

England selection woes

Definitely out:
Andy Caddick (side strain)
Darren Gough (knee)
Simon Jones (side strain)
Marcus Trescothick (broken thumb)
Graham Thorpe (pulled out)

Possibly out:
Alex Tudor (shin splints)

Probably OK:
Mark Butcher (knee)
Andrew Flintoff (groin)

"I've had a lot of people have telling me what to do and it didn't sink in. But when someone like Alec gives you advice you listen to it.

Key replaces Graham Thorpe in the side and will open the batting with Michael Vaughan, allowing Mark Butcher to come in at his preferred position of three.

New faces right? Have your say

Key's county captain David Fulton was also discussed by the four-man panel, as was Warwickshire's Ian Bell, who also spent the winter under the tutelage of Rod Marsh in Adelaide.

"The Academy was six months of hard work getting up at 6am every morning, which was quite a shock to my system," said Key.

"It was the hardest work I have ever done in my life.

"Sometimes I would wonder why I was there, but I can see now that it has paid off."

Injury replacement

Harmison got the call from the selectors following the withdrawal of Simon Jones through injury but he is unlikely to play if Alex Tudor can prove his fitness.

And all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was struggling with a groin strain towards the end of the first Test but he is set to play.

Flintoff's mum Susan told BBC Sport Online: "I saw him on Friday and he said he was fine. He was not worried about any injury."

Glamorgan pace man Jones, who hit 44 and took four wickets in the 170-run first Test victory at Lord's, will have a scan on his side strain on Monday.

Steve Harmison
Harmison replaces the injured Simon Jones
He joins an injury list that already includes the first-choice opening pair of Andy Caddick and Darren Gough.

Tudor last week pronounced himself recovered from the shin splints that prevented him from playing at Lord's.

He would normally have to prove his fitness in a first-class match before selection.

Profile: Harmison profits from injury

But chairman of selectors David Graveney admitted the the policy had been changed because of the lack of experienced bowlers available.

"With Simon Jones injured, we view Stephen Harmison as a like-for-like replacement who gives us the option of express pace if required," Graveney added.

Harmison, 23, has been dogged by injury since being part of England's squad prior to home Tests against Zimbabwe two years ago.

He too shone at the Academy but has so far taken 13 wickets at 33.00 in five first-class matches this season.

Full England squad profiles

Dominic Cork, named in the squad for Lord's but left out of the XI, again looks likely to fight for a single spot with Craig White.

Yorkshire all-rounder White scored a half-century and took four wickets on his Test return at Lord's.

England squad: Nasser Hussain (capt), Michael Vaughan, Robert Key, Mark Butcher, John Crawley, Alec Stewart, Andrew Flintoff, Craig White, Dominic Cork, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Alex Tudor.