In these tumultuous times, it is good to know that you can still tune into an England squad announcement and come away with the warm glow of familiarity. Only once yesterday, with the news that Owais Shah has leapfrogged Ravi Bopara, did the selectors veer from the script and that is hardly likely to get the bugler moistening his lips in anticipation of a blast.

Dullness and consistency of thought are good attributes for selectors since stability is a key foundation stone of any successful team. But with the omission of James Foster comes the troubling feeling that the selectors have failed to recognise performances that, over the past couple of years, have rarely fallen below outstanding. His omission from the development squad in favour of Steven Davies, of Worcestershire, means that the best wicketkeeper in England does not feature in their winter plans. He must wonder what more he has to do.

Not that his omission was a surprise, given the increment contracts that were this month handed out to Tim Ambrose and Matt Prior, who, according to Geoff Miller, the national selector, start on level pegging as far as the Test team for the tour to India is concerned. Since Prior will retain his place in the one-day team for the seven-match series starting on November 14, and given the lack of first-class cricket before the first Test, it is not inconceivable that England will take the park in Ahmedabad on December 11 with yet another change of Test wicketkeeper.

Other than that, and barring unforeseen circumstances, England's first Test team of the winter will be pretty much the one who beat South Africa at the Brit Oval in August, with Graeme Swann replacing a seam bowler, if conditions dictate. Swann's inclusion, despite having taken 33 wickets fewer than Adil Rashid this summer, is faintly depressing, but, while the media and general public are swayed by the potential of youth, especially with a leg spinner, the selectors are influenced by more mundane arguments.

Miller said: “Swann will provide us with a right-arm and left-arm combination, which we believe can be effective in India. Graeme bowled in tandem with Monty Panesar when they were at Northamptonshire together.”

If the selectors feel that Rashid, 20, is not ready and that a tour to India at this stage could do more harm than good, fair enough, but Swann's inclusion hardly sets the pulse racing.

Shah may begin the Test series carrying the drinks, but he knows that he is one dodgy prawn away from getting a go. His selection was unexpected, given that Bopara was in the 12 for the Oval Test, but is fitting reward for a man who has been unfortunate not to have had the opportunity to cement the good impression he made on his debut in India three winters ago. Miller described him as “an excellent player of spin, who played a superb innings [of 88] on his Test debut”.

That Shah's place in the one-day team is secure would have also been to his advantage. But it is also testament to the influence of Kevin Pietersen, the England captain, who is known to be a fan of Shah and believes that Bopara has some maturing to do.

As if an antidote to the predictability of the Test-match party, a performance programme squad, which flies out to India on November 21, was also revealed. Intriguing names to ponder are the two Davies - Steven, of Worcestershire, and Mark, of Durham - Joe Denly, Robbie Joseph and Amjad Khan, of Kent, and the Middlesex pair of Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan.

Miller raised the possibility that Michael Vaughan could join that party as the former England captain aims to return to the Test side. “We could look at that,” Miller said. “We see him as an integral part of our plans. Andrew Strauss came back and did well [after a break] and Vaughan will hopefully do that as well. Going abroad might put his mind right.”

Test squad to tour India

K P Pietersen (Hampshire, captain), T R Ambrose (Warwickshire), J M Anderson (Lancashire), I R Bell (Warwickshire), S C J Broad (Nottinghamshire), P D Collingwood (Durham), A N Cook (Essex), A Flintoff (Lancashire), S J Harmison (Durham), M S Panesar (Northamptonshire), M J Prior (Sussex), O A Shah (Middlesex), R J Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), A J Strauss (Middlesex), G P Swann (Nottinghamshire).

Itinerary

Dec 3: Travel from Delhi to Baroda. Dec 4: Practice. Dec 5 to 7: Three-day game in Baroda. Dec 8: Travel to Ahmedabad. Dec 9 and 10: Practice. Dec 11 to 15: First Test in Ahmedabad. Dec 16: Travel to Bombay. Dec 17 and 18: Practice. Dec 19 to 23: Second Test in Bombay. Dec 24: Return to UK.

Performance programme squad to tour India

T T Bresnan (Yorkshire), M Davies (Durham), S M Davies (Worcestershire), J L Denly (Kent), R H Joseph (Kent), R W T Key (Kent), A Khan (Kent), S I Mahmood (Lancashire), D J Malan (Middlesex), E J G Morgan (Middlesex), S C Moore (Worcestershire), L J Plunkett (Durham), A Rashid (Yorkshire), O P Rayner (Sussex), I J L Trott (Warwickshire).

Itinerary

Nov 21: Depart UK for Bangalore. Nov 22 to 29: Training and match preparation. Nov 30 to Dec 2: Three-day match in Bangalore. Dec 3: Travel to Bombay. Dec 4 to 10: Training and match preparation in Bombay. Dec 11 to 14: Four-day match in Bombay. Dec 15 and 16: Rest and training. Dec 17 and 18: Training with England Test squad. Dec 19: Return to UK.

Squad for Hong Kong Sixes

(to be played on Nov 8 and 9): A D Mascarenhas (Hampshire, captain), T T Bresnan (Yorkshire), E C Joyce (Middlesex), D L Maddy (Warwickshire), G R Napier (Essex), I J L Trott (Warwickshire), G G Wagg (Derbyshire).

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