Usman Afzaal (Nottinghamshire, 23) Made more than 1,000 runs in 2000 at more than 45 to earn his place on the tour. He has toured the West Indies before, as an Under-19 player. Made his first-class debut in 1995 but the return of Clive Rice to Trent Bridge did wonders for his consistency and he made three hundreds, including an unbeaten 151 against Worcestershire. He also took nine first-class wickets and is hoping to make his name as a genuine all-rounder. [More]

Mark Alleyne (Gloucestershire, captain, age 32) After outstanding seasons in 1999 and 2000 in which Gloucestershire won five trophies, Alleyne, nicknamed Boo Boo, is considered one of the best - and most popular - captains in county cricket. He made his debut as England A captain last winter on their tour of Bangladesh and New Zealand, following his England one-day debut in Australia the previous winter. He made 657 runs at an average of 46. Alleyne is a regular in England's one-day squad, playing in the recent ICC Knock Out Tournament in Kenya. [More]

Jason Brown (Northamptonshire, 26) Made county debut in 1996 but enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2000 after spending previous seasons in the shadow of Northamptonshire spinning colleagues Graeme Swann and Michael Davies. Started 2000 in the second XI but batsmen quickly started to take notice. Brown finished with 61 wickets at 20.62 and was selected for the A tour to West Indies. In December, he was added to the England squad for the tour of Sri Lanka and will join them at the end of January. [More]

John Crawley (Lancashire, vice-captain, 29) Made his England Test debut in 1994 but has since struggled to keep his place despite his outstanding talent, especially batting against spin. His last Test appearance was against Australia at Sydney in 1999 so is ambitious to use this tour, his fourth A tour, as a platform to reclaim his place. Made 286 for England against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth in 1993/94. Toured the West Indies with England in 1997/98. Lancashire captain who made his county debut in 1990 while still at Cambridge University. [More]

James Foster (Essex, 20) A surprise selection, Foster impressed in his first season with Essex making 125 in four first-class matches including an unbeaten 52 on his championship debut at Southend. At a willowy six foot, he is tall for a wicketkeeper but is a highly rated understudy for Chris Read. [More]

Paul Franks (Nottinghamshire, 21) Franks won the England A bowling award for his 31 wickets on the New Zealand tour last winter. His best figures were 5/26 against Central Districts and his performance on top of a series of classy displays for Nottinghamshire (youngest player to take a hat-trick) and England Under-19s, led to selection for England against West Indies in the NatWest Series match at Trent Bridge in 2000. A tough, aggressive and ambitious bowler who is also a useful lower order batsman and competent outfielder. [More]

Aftab Habib (Leicestershire, 28) A gifted and powerful middle order batsman with unusual powers of concentration, Habib has had a chequered career firstly with Middlesex (1992-94) where he achieved little and then with Leicestershire where he has made good progress. Made Test debut against New Zealand at Edgbaston in 1999 but struggled on debut and again in the second Test at Lord's. Selected for A tour to Bangladesh and New Zealand and averaged 51. Scored 1,038 Championship runs at an average of 49.43 in 2000 season, including two centuries. [More]

Jonathan Lewis (Gloucestershire, 25) A late call-up after Steve Harmison was forced to withdraw through injury, Lewis is a fine prospect having enjoyed an excellent summer in 2000 with 72 first-class wickets after a season-on-season improvement since 1997. Made county debut in 1995 having spent the previous year on the staff at Northamptonshire without getting a game. Took his first hat-trick against Nottinghamshire in 2000. [More]

Chris Read (Nottinghamshire, 22) Read played for England A before he had made an appearance in a first-class game for Gloucestershire. While on tour in Sri Lanka, the talented keeper decided to move out of Jack Russell's shadow to join Nottinghamshire in 1998 and his promotion up the batting order, rewarded with a maiden first-class century, earned him selection in England's first Test match against New Zealand in 1999. Now has three Tests and eight ODI's to his name. [More]

David Sales (Northamptonshire, 23) One of the most exciting young batsmen in the country with power and shots around the wicket though still struggles with consistency. Has achieved some big scores - was the first Englishman to make a double hundred on his championship debut (210 v Worcestershire 1996) and the youngest ever to score 200. Made 303 against Essex in 1998 and 276 in 2000 but can go for long spells without runs. Had an excellent A tour to Bangladesh and New Zealand - 354 at 44.25 including two centuries. [More]

Chris Schofield (Lancashire, 22) England's brightest wrist-spinning prospect, Schofield has been fast-tracked through the ranks on account of his rarity and talent. Made his debut for Lancashire in 1998 and played his first Test against Zimbabwe at Lord's in 2000. Was awarded an ECB contract on the back of a superb A tour of Bangladesh and New Zealand last winter, finishing as highest wicket-taker (35 wickets). A gifted fielder and useful lower order batsman, Schofield had a disappointing early season limiting his 2000 tally to 39 wickets. [More]

Ryan Sidebottom (Yorkshire, 22) A former England Under-19 bowler, Sidebottom, the son of former Yorkshire and England fast bowler Arnie, took 24 wickets in six first-class matches in 2000. It would have been more but for a groin injury in early June which kept him out for the rest of the summer after taking 6/16 and match figures of 11/43 against Kent. Tall (6ft 3ins) and distinctive for his red shaggy hair, Sidebottom has impressed with his speed and commitment. Made his Yorkshire debut in 1997. [More]

Chris Silverwood (Yorkshire, 25) Injury restricted Silverwood to only nine first-class games last season, and he struggled to find his form, taking 26 wickets at 29.3. Made his county debut in 1993 and Test debut in 1996/97 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo and has since played five Tests, his last one against South Africa at Centurion in 1999/2000, having taken five wickets for the first time in the fourth Test at Newlands. Toured the West Indies with England in 1997/98. [More]

Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire, 24) Indian born but brought up in Wolverhampton, this handsome middle-order batsman made his debut for England against South Africa in Bloemfontain last winter. Has played eight one-day internationals. Toured with England U19 to West Indies in 1994-95 and Worcestershire CCC to Barbados 1996. This will be his third England A tour following South Africa and Zimbabwe 1998/99 and Bangladesh and New Zealand last winter. Enjoyed a promising summer in England in 2000, making 1,138 runs in all first-class cricket, averaging 43.72, his highest score an unbeaten 161. [More]

Alex Tudor (Surrey, 23) Has played with England Under-19s, England A and the full squad, touring Australia in 1998/99. County debut in 1995 and England debut in Perth 1998/99 where he took 4/89. Has three Test caps and eight Test wickets but his finest hour was his unbeaten 99, made as nightwatchman against New Zealand in July 1999. Is on standby for the Sri Lanka Test series. Has genuine pace, generated from his 6ft 5in frame, but is prone to injury. Voted 1999 Young Cricketer of the Year. [More]

Ian Ward (Surrey, 27) Second A tour for the left-handed opener after he was selected for Bangladesh and New Zealand on the back of a superb 1999 season in which he made more than 1,000 runs, including a maiden first-class century. Started his career with Surrey in 1992 but was released and played minor counties cricket until 1996 when Surrey's new regime recalled him. After an average tour last winter, scoring 287 runs in seven matches, the technically excellent Ward will be looking to consolidate on his 2000 progress. [More]