England have recalled Craig White for the first Test against India at Lord's, with John Crawley, Dominic Cork and Simon Jones also included in the squad. With Marcus Trescothick, Andy Caddick and Alex Tudor all out injured, England have opted for the security of experience, with only Jones – who is unlikely to play anyway – included from last winter's Academy squad.

White is a replacement for Tudor as a bowling allrounder, and will fight for a single place with England's Lord's favourite, Cork. Jones is only likely to play if Darren Gough is not fit. Matthew Hoggard, Ashley Giles and Andrew Flintoff will complete a five-man bowling attack.

On what is likely to be a flat Lord's track, White's ability to reverse-swing at decent pace should get him in the final XI ahead of Cork, who is a better option in favourable bowling conditions. Given the steamy weather of the past week, England are unlikely to find those.

"Craig played well in India in the winter, making his first Test hundred," said David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors.

"We feel his ability to reverse swing the ball could be useful if the Lord's wicket is as flat as it was against Sri Lanka.

"Dominic will give us another option if the wicket is more seamer-friendly."

The inclusion of Crawley, ahead of Ian Bell and the Kent pair of David Fulton and Robert Key, means that Mark Butcher will open alongside Michael Vaughan, with Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe shuffling one place up the order.

"John Crawley came into the side for the first Test against Sri Lanka and acquitted himself well," Graveney said. "There is no reason why he should be overlooked now as we want to be consistent in our selection policy."

Squad
Nasser Hussain (capt), Mark Butcher, Michael Vaughan, Graham Thorpe, John Crawley, Alec Stewart (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Craig White, Dominic Cork, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard.

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