Shah 'surprised' at England call-up

Owais Shah, the England and Middlesex batsman, has said he was "kind of surprised" to be included in the 15-man squad for the two-Test series in India in December. Shah was preferred to Ravi Bopara, who was in the squad for the Oval Test against South Africa.

"I got a phone call from Geoff Miller this morning saying I was selected and I was a bit shocked," Shah told Sky Sports. "I wasn't expecting it but I'm very pleased that I've been selected to go to India as part of the Test team. I'm just really happy to get the opportunity to play for England. Hopefully I can take that chance this winter."

Shah had made his debut in Mumbai during the 2006 tour of India and made a vital contribution - scoring 88 and 38 - towards England leveling the series. Since then, he's played only one more Test, against West Indies at Lord's in 2007.

"I had a reasonable Test match [on debut]," Shah said. "I quite enjoyed the challenges of the subcontinent. Obviously you've got the spin bowlers over there being very good in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. The conditions are also quite tough. It's very warm out there and you have to take plenty of fluids on board. I was subject to a lot of cramps the last time I played there."

In his column for Sky Sports former England captain Nasser Hussain wrote that Shah's inclusion in the squad showed a "slight inconsistency" in selection.

"If you remember the last Test squad that was announced against South Africa at The Oval, Ravi Bopara was in it," Hussain said. "He made the 13 but not the actual side, but how come he isn't good enough to be in the 15 now?"

Hussain was also of the opinion that England changed their wicketkeeper too many times. Matt Prior, who made a comeback during the one-dayers against South Africa, and Tim Ambrose are the wicketkeepers in the squad.

"Peter Moores has known Prior and Ambrose for a long time now since their Sussex days and it's just time to work out which one is the better one - and stick with him," Hussain said. "For me I would have gone with Prior and I would have gone with James Foster - if they don't believe Ambrose is the right choice - and I am not one just to stick with Ambrose just because he played this summer. I think Foster and Prior are the best two but the selectors have seen it differently. All I would call for is some consistency."