BASINGSTOKE cricketer Shaun Udal missed out on the chance to play for England on home soil in a Test match as he was not selected for the first Test of the summer against Sri Lanka at Lord's on Thursday.

The 37-year-old Hampshire star said he felt he had done enough to keep his place in the side after helping England to their first Test victory on Indian soil in 21 years.

The spin bowler, who took 4-14 in the second innings for match figures of 5-67, was backed by Australian spin king and county captain Shane Warne to keep his place, but the England selectors decided otherwise.

Northamptonshire's Monty Panesar retained the sole spinner role in the side and this looks set to have drawn the curtain on Udal's international career once more, after making his Test debut in Pakistan at the end of last year and then producing a match winning performance against India.

Panesar played in all three games in India, but has yet to prove himself on the international scene. The selectors may hope he will do that against Sri Lanka.

Udal said: "Of course I am disappointed. I felt my performance in my last Test match proved I could play at this level and I would have loved to have played for England at Lord's, but that is not to be.

"I have to accept the decision and now carry on focusing on doing well for Hampshire.

"I wish Monty all the best and hope England do well as it is good for the game."

Lord's is set to be a seamer-friendly wicket, so despite Panesar being in the squad, the Northampton spinner could still find himself sitting out the Test match, depending what attack England decide to go with on Thursday.

With front line bowlers Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and James Anderson all missing due to injury, uncapped seamers Jon Lewis and Sajid Mahmood have been selected in the 13.

As expected, Andrew Flintoff remains as captain as England face one of the weaker Test sides in the world. The team hope to repeat the victory England A inflicted on the tourists with a crushing 10-wicket win.

England squad: Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire, capt), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Alastair Cook (Essex), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Geraint Jones (Kent, wkt), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire).

First published: Monday, May 8, 2006