CHRIS Schofield is being tipped as the shock name on England's first list of contracted players when it is announced at Lord's tomorrow.

Captain Nasser Hussain, coach Duncan Fletcher and the other selectors will meet tonight to finalise their squad for a hectic summer of internationals against West Indies and Zimbabwe, with Lancashire duo Mike Atherton and Andy Flintoff certain to be included.

And even though Schofield has only made 12 first class appearances, the Littleborough leg-spinner's impressive form on the A tour of Bangladesh and New Zealand last year has thrust him into contention to join them. But the 23-year-old is trying to ignore the speculation.

"I'm not even sure of my place in the Lancashire team, never mind England," he said.

"Obviously it's great to be talked about as a contender for an England place and I have heard some people say I should get a contract.

"But I've got Lancashire's pre-season tour of South Africa to think about, because I want to impress our new coach Bob Simpson and have a good start to the season, which I've not really done before."

Schofield, who has been groomed as a future England player since he was spotted by former Lancashire and England coach David Lloyd, was the leading wicket taker on the A tour and particularly impressed ex-England selector Mike Gatting.

There were even calls from the likes of Sky commentators Paul Allott and Ian Botham to promote Schofield to the senior England team during the series in South Africa. Now he and young Durham paceman Steve Harrison are seen as the future of England's bowling attack.

The selectors are expected to choose between 10 and 16 players for the central contracts, which are worth around £70,000 plus bonuses for good performances.

Lancashire will receive around £50,000 for each player they have selected. And even though £150,000 would be little compensation for losing Atherton, Flintoff and Schofield for most of next season, chairman Jack Simmons is in favour of the plan.

"We all have to support England because the game needs a successful England team," he said.

"It will be difficult for us but from speaking to Duncan Fletcher out in South Africa, I don't think it's going to be quite as bad as some people say.

"Duncan wants the England lads to be playing cricket in the lead-up to the internationals, which means that anyone we have selected should be available to us in early season as well as in the big cup games."

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