Vaughan to feature for MCC

Michael Vaughan will hope to catch the eye of England's selectors with his display

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Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell will be given an early chance to prove their credentials for a space in England’s Ashes team when they line up for the MCC in the annual curtain-raiser against Durham at Lord’s.

Former England captain Vaughan will form part of a strong side which will be captained by England Lions skipper Rob Key. The four-day match begins at Lord's on April 9.

Vaughan has scored six Test centuries at the home of cricket and will be hoping to continue his Pro ARCH Trophy form as he looks to regain his Test place before Australia arrive this summer.

Kent opener Key is joined in the side by fellow Lions players Sajid Mahmood and Stephen Moore, with Essex wicketkeeper James Foster set to play behind the stumps.

The team was picked in conjunction with the ECB and a number of youngsters will have a chance to impress.

Alongside the experience of Vaughan, Bell and Key will be Adil Rashid, who is with England in the West Indies, and England Under-19 duo Chris Woakes and Steven Finn, as well as Essex and Durham UCCE’s Tom Westley.

The line-up is completed by Worcestershire’s Kabir Ali, who enjoyed a successful 2008 season, taking 59 first-class wickets.

John Stephenson, MCC assistant secretary (cricket and estates) said: “This year’s champion county fixture has all the ingredients to be a classic.

“MCC is delighted to have so many top players turning out against a Durham side that will also be full of internationals.

“It will be an excellent opportunity for the young players to show what they can do alongside established international cricketers. Graeme Fowler, who coaches at Durham UCCE, has been raving about Tom Westley, and I look forward to him scoring runs against a team captained by his predecessor at Durham UCCE, Will Smith.”

England national selector Geoff Miller said: “All the players in the MCC team will be hungry to prove a point to the selectors, so we are confident we will see four days of tough, hard-fought cricket.

“Every English cricketer wants to be involved with the national set-up this summer because the world’s eyes will be on England for both the npower Ashes series and the ICC World Twenty20.

“It’s a great opportunity not just for players on the edge of the Test side to make a claim for a place, but also for the youngsters to prove the strength of under-19 and university cricket in this country.”

MCC XI (to play Durham at Lord's, April 9-12): Rob Key (captain, Kent), Stephen Moore (Worcestershire), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tom Westley (Essex/Durham UCCE), James Foster (wkt, Essex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Kabir Ali (Worcestershire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Steven Finn (Middlesex).