Mark Ramprakash is in line to return to the England squad after he was forced to withdraw from the First Test side because of a hamstring strain.

With England badly needing to bolster their middle order for the Lord's Test, the Surrey right-hander is almost certain to be named in the squad to be announced on Sunday.

He hit a half-century against Yorkshire in the C&G Trophy this week and is poised to play in the Benson and Hedges Cup final tomorrow against Gloucestershire.

"I was very happy to get through the game on Wednesday," said Ramprakash.

"I still have trouble with the leg, I'm still aware of it and I'm looking after it, but if I'm picked for next Thursday I should be all right.

"Things have gone well with the injury since I came back and I'm just looking forward to playing as much cricket as possible at the moment.

"It was very disappointing to miss out on the last Test but if I make it back in the squad this time, that would be a fantastic consolation."

Ramprakash, who averaged more than 40 on the last Ashes tour, would add much needed experience to a middle order that folded badly at Edgbaston where Usman Afzaal was making his debut and Ian Ward was playing in only his third Test.

His main rival for a place would probably be his former Middlesex team-mate Owais Shah, though he was overlooked for the First Test in favour of Afzaal.

And coach Duncan Fletcher is reluctant to throw in too many inexperienced players at the same time – particularly against the might of the Australians.

England could also be boosted by the return of Graham Thorpe who resumed training yesterday after a five-week lay-off because of a calf injury.

Though he would go into the game desperately short of match practice, the selectors might feel his experience and form before his injury would compensate for that.

With skipper Nasser Hussain and batsman Michael Vaughan both out until at least the Third Test, England suffered another setback this week with the loss of Matthew Hoggard through a stress fracture in the foot.

It is possible that his Yorkshire colleague Chris Silverwood could be brought in as cover for the pace attack. And Robert Croft may be added to the squad as cover for Ashley Giles who has been suffering for some time with a sore Achilles heel.

Squad (possible): Atherton (capt), Trescothick, Butcher, Thorpe, Afzaal, Ward, Ramprakash, Stewart, Giles, White, Gough, Caddick, Croft, Silverwood.

© CricInfo Ltd.