LONDON (AP)

England picked former captain Michael Vaughan yesterday in a 25-man performance squad from which their Ashes team will be drawn.

The 34-year-old Vaughan captained England to a series victory over Australia four years ago but has not played internationally since stepping down from the role in August.

But he was still given one of 12 central contracts by the England and Wales Cricket Board and, despite being left out of the recent tour against West Indies, joins Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen as former Test captains in an experienced squad.

"The selectors can name up to 30 players in the EPS, but we have decided to keep five places vacant at present in order to give ourselves greater flexibility," national selector Geoff Miller said. "We will reserve the right to add further players to the squad if their performances in domestic cricket merit it."

Yorkshire's 21-year-old spinner Adil Rashid is the only uncapped player in a squad that will also provide the team to play West Indies in a two-Test home series.

The remainder, which includes eight players who figured in the 2005 Ashes squads, have at least played limited-over matches.

Essex's James Foster was recalled as one of three wicketkeepers, almost seven years after his last Test.

Lancashire paceman Sajid Mahmood may have the chance to improve upon his showing in the 2007 Ashes series when England lost 5-0 in Australia and Danish-born Amjad Khan also made the line-up after playing one Test and one Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

Samit Patel was included despite the left-arm spinner being dropped from the one-day squad in the Caribbean after failing to heed warnings over his fitness, while Matthew Hoggard's omission suggests the Ashes-winning bowler has little chance of an international recall.