Owais Shah gained Michael Vaughan's absence when he was named in England's 15-man party for the Test tour of India.

Although Bopara, 23, has enjoyed an outstanding season - scoring 1162 runs in a dozen LV County Championship appearances - in which he was named as the Young Cricketer of the Year, captain Kevin Pietersen is a known fan of Shah.

The 29-year-old, a renowned player of spin, will now get the chance to fight for a third Test cap, having been dropped after each of his matches to date.

His debut came in India two years ago when he stepped in for the ill Alastair Cook and struck an imperious 88 in the series-levelling victory in Mumbai.

"Ravi is going to be disappointed," said national selector Geoff Miller.

"We have one cover batsman, Owais has done well this year, and the decision of the selectors was we would go in that direction.

"He did well in India on his debut a few years ago and we felt that was the right way to go at this moment in time.

"It is a tough decision, as they always are when it is only one person that you are talking about. Unfortunately for Ravi he has lost out on this occasion but I am sure he will bounce back.

"Everyone is unlucky when they're not in the side but it shows their character when they continue knocking and finally get in. When they get that chance they have got to take it."

In what is a double snub to Essex, wicketkeeper James Foster was also overlooked with Tim Ambrose retained despite his poor summer.

Although it is anticipated that Sussex's Matt Prior will now assume the role of number one gloveman in all forms of the game, the four-man selection panel have sought to emphasise their faith in Ambrose by adding him as cover for the limited-overs series which precedes the tour.

Foster, who has built a strong case for a recall, was impressive in the 2001-02 series against India but, according to the England camp he was not picked for either the full tour or in the performance squad due to a shoulder injury.

However, Miller did not refer to that problem when he said: "It is cruel to James, he knows where he stands, again he is unlucky.

"I am sure he will continue to work at his game, at this moment James is very close to it but we have gone in the other direction. We will wait to see how James will respond to that.

"Matt Prior has enjoyed an impressive domestic season with Sussex and having re-established himself in the England one-day side, he will now compete with Tim Ambrose for the position of Test wicket-keeper.

"Matt remains our first-choice keeper in the one-day game, but they both go out there on an equal. We will wait to see what conditions are like out there and those decisions on who plays will be made by the captain and the coach.

"We have two quality keepers there who can do a job with the bat as well."

With a second-string side also on the subcontinent during the tour and linking up with the full party for the second Test in Mumbai, England resisted the temptation to add a third spinner, relying on Nottinghamshire off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Yorkshire all-rounder Adil Rashid, whose leg-spin reaped 62 wickets in Division One of the County Championship, will be among that group of developing players on standby for the Tests should injury or illness strike.

"We appreciated that he had bowled well towards the end of the year but we discussed the situation with Adil and decided Graeme gives us that turn into the bat with off-spin while Monty gives us turn away from the bat," said Miller.

"If we needed to play two spinners we have got the variation."

While the centrally-contracted Vaughan, 34 next month, has been granted down time for now, he is expected to spend a period before Christmas playing competitive cricket in a bid to regain form.

Miller added: "The positive thing for him is to have his break, get his mind right, and then go and play some cricket somewhere to give him a chance of getting back into the side. We know what he is capable of doing when he is playing to his best."