Yorkshire's Bresnan in Ashes squad - but snubs for two more Tykes

All-rounder Bresnan impressed when given the chance in Bangladesh last year and the Castleford-born player now features on his first-ever Ashes trip.

However, Shazad must make do only with a place in the 16-man England Performance Programme (EPP) squad, to be based in Australia until the start of the third Test in Perth, which includes three others - Michael Carberry, Craig Kieswetter and James Tredwell - who have played full international cricket over the past 12 months.

Shazad is joined by Headingley team-mates Andrew Gale, Jonathan Bairstow and Adam Lyth but the big surprise is highly-rated Yorkshire spinner Rashid has been overlooked by the selectors on both counts.

Chris Tremlett and Monty Panesar will both have the opportunity to revive their Test careers on the biggest stage after being named in the Ashes party.

The Surrey fast bowler and Sussex left-arm spinner, both of whom moved to their new counties at the start of this summer, have impressed sufficiently to be included in an otherwise predictable squad.

England also announced at the Brit Oval this afternoon that Jonathan Trott and Steven Finn, both also among the Ashes 16 to be captained by Andrew Strauss, have won central contracts for the first time.

England and Wales Cricket Board national selector Geoff Miller explained the reasons behind what he termed some "difficult decisions" in settling on a squad tailored to be effective in Australia.

"We believe we've selected an outstanding Test squad for what will be a fiercely contested Ashes series in Australia," he said.

"In order to retain the Ashes, we will need to play to a very high level - and we believe we've selected a squad to do just that.

"Clearly there are always difficult decisions to make when selecting an England squad, and this Ashes squad was no different."

It is Tremlett and Panesar's inclusions that will catch the attention of most.

"We feel that Chris Tremlett's inclusion will add a real threat of pace and bounce to our bowling attack, given the conditions in Australia," added Miller.

"Chris will be vying for a place in the final team among a confident attack including James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn.

"We feel that, following an excellent season with Sussex, Monty Panesar deserves his opportunity to assume the role as England's second spinner behind Graeme Swann.

"Monty has gone away and worked on his bowling since his last England appearance and he continues to be an attacking threat with the ball in his hand.

"In terms of the second wicketkeeper's role behind Matt Prior, Steven Davies has shown what he is capable of with Surrey and England this year. His glovework and batting have continued to reach new levels."

England Ashes squad: AJ Strauss (capt), AN Cook, JM Anderson, IR Bell, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, PD Collingwood, SM Davies (wkt), ST Finn, EJG Morgan, MS Panesar, KP Pietersen, MJ Prior (wkt), GP Swann, CT Tremlett, IJL Trott.

England Performance Programme squad: J Adams (Hampshire), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), D Briggs (Hampshire), M Carberry (Hampshire), M Chambers (Essex), J Dernbach (Surrey), A Gale (Yorkshire), J Hildreth (Somerset), C Kieswetter (Somerset), A Lyth (Yorkshire), L Plunkett (Durham), A Shahzad (Yorkshire), B Stokes (Durham), J Taylor (Leicestershire), J Tredwell (Kent), C Woakes (Warwickshire).

England central contracts: Strauss, Anderson, Bell, Broad, Collingwood, Cook, Finn, Pietersen, Prior, Swann, Trott.

Incremental contracts: R Bopara (Essex), T Bresnan (Yorkshire), E Morgan (Middlesex), L Wright (Sussex), Michael Yardy (Sussex).