Chris Tremlett: drafted into the England squad © Getty Images Enlarge

The Hampshire seamer, Chris Tremlett, has been added to England's squad for the first Test against India at Lord's, after it was confirmed that Steve Harmison will miss the match with a hernia problem.

Tremlett, 25, was England's 12th man for four of the five Ashes Tests in 2005, but has not featured in the Test set-up since withdrawing from the tour of Pakistan that winter. He did, however, play for England Lions against the touring Indians at Chelmsford last week, where he took 1 for 40 in 13 overs in the first innings.

England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said that Tremlett's inclusion in the squad was a "precaution". "Chris performed well in the recent England Lions tour match against India and his inclusion will give us additional options when we come to decide on our starting eleven for Thursday."

There is very little prospect of Tremlett being required for the Test, and only a spate of further injuries will prevent him from playing for Hampshire at Chester-le-Street on Friday. "The choice for the final pace bowling position will be between James Anderson and Stuart Broad," said Graveney. "They are different types of bowlers and the final decision will depend on our assessment of the pitch and the weather conditions at Lord's.

"It may mean that we have to go into this series with a relatively inexperienced attack, but I am sure all of the bowlers concerned will relish the opportunity to test themselves against a side which has one of the strongest batting line-ups in world cricket.''

Harmison's hernia was described as "non-serious" when it was first diagnosed in the aftermath of England's fourth-Test victory against West Indies at Durham last month, but this week he aggravated it while playing for Durham against Sussex at Horsham. He was reassessed by a member of the England medical staff at Horsham yesterday and will see a specialist on Tuesday to determine whether surgery is required.

Given that the average recovery period from hernia surgery is six weeks, Harmison could be out of action for England until the tour of Sri Lanka at the end of the year.

Revised squad Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, Matthew Hoggard, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett.