Lions looking strong

England have announced a strong Lions line-up, including seven players with international experience, for next week's four-day match against West Indies.

The selectors, who delayed the announcement of Wednesday's squad from Monday to give them time to assess their options, decided on a side including several players who may also feature in England's squad for the opening Test at Lord's on May 6.

Kent captain Rob Key, one of the candidates to become England's captain for the ICC World Twenty20, will lead the Lions again, as he did last summer and during the winter on their tour of New Zealand.

He will captain a side including Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell, who was dropped from England's Test side during the winter tour of the Caribbean but has started the season strongly with centuries in the LV County Championship and Friends Provident Trophy against Somerset.

Bell will also hope to be included in the Test squad, which is expected to be announced next week once National Selector Geoff Miller has had a chance to look at other candidates, such as former captain Michael Vaughan.

"This is a really exciting summer for cricket in England and Wales and the Lions matches are excellent opportunities for players to push for England places," said Miller.

"The Lions squads feature players who display qualities that are capable of winning matches for England, so these games are very important.

"Rob Key captained outstandingly well in New Zealand and then took the reins in similar fashion for the MCC in the champion county match, so he will continue to lead for the match against West Indies."

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel, dropped for England's one-day series in the Caribbean recently for failing to reach the required fitness levels, has been included having scored 95 against Worcestershire in the current championship game.

The remaining international players included are Warwickshire wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, who toured the Caribbean with England this winter, Lancashire seamer Sajid Mahmood, Durham's Liam Plunkett, Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott and Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright.