There has to be provision for late developers or those talented players, like Ian Botham, who emerge in county cricket without having impressed the coaches at the centre of the system. Jason Lewry, the 27-year-old Sussex left-arm fast bowler, who sprang to prominence from club cricket with Goring-on-Sea and took his first-class tally this season to 62 yesterday, is the odd man out and the oldest member of the squad.

They will be led by the 23-year-old Yorkshire opening batsman Michael Vaughan who, with the promising Graeme Swann and Vikram Solanki, will hope to develop his off-spin under the guidance of John Emburey.

For Mal Loye, 25, the tour is a chance to prove himself worthy of being the next in line for an England batting place. He has had an outstanding season for Northants, with three hundreds plus his 322 not out.

Darren Maddy, by contrast, has come down to earth with a painful bump this summer but Matt Windows and Darren Thomas have been rewarded for excellent seasons and Durham's young new-ball bowlers, Steve Harmison and Mel Betts, are included. Owais Shah, the current Under-19 captain, is a notable omission: his attitude has impressed some at Middlesex less than his talent.

The physiotherapist will be Anne Brentnall, of Derbyshire, the first female to undertake the role for an England team.