WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Vikram Solanki has been picked to captain the England A' team in the one-day game against the touring West Indian side at New Road on Thursday.

Solanki's County colleagues Kabir Ali and Gareth Batty have also been included in the side, which is now known as the England Lions.

Solanki said: "I am delighted to be asked to captain England Lions against the West Indies.

"I am pleased with my form in recent weeks so to captain the England Lions on my home ground is an honour."

The 12-man squad also features 10 players with England caps including James Anderson, Paul Nixon and Stuart Broad.

Players from teams in the Friends Provident Trophy semi-finals were not considered for the 50-over contest.

Meanwhile, Kabir celebrated his return to the England fold with three wickets as Worcestershire held the upper-hand on a rain-shortened day with local rivals Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The 27-year-old seamer returned figures of 3-32 in nine overs as the Bears were reduced to 86-4 from 20 overs on the opening day of the LV County Championship Division One game.

Kabir said: "I am looking at the call-up in a positive frame of mind. It is another opportunity for me to perform and hopefully knock on the door again.

"Although I haven't been picked this year, I haven't given up hope. I have bowled well in Championship cricket and I have also done pretty well in the one-day stuff.

"I am still very up-beat and have still got my fingers crossed."

Warwickshire elected to bat after play started 75 minutes late following overnight rain and quickly ran into problems against the new ball attack of Kabir and Doug Bollinger.

Bollinger made the initial breakthrough when Bears skipper Darren Maddy (5) shouldered arms and was bowled.

Maddy's opening partner Ian Westwood (18) perished in the next over from Kabir when he was comfortably caught by Graeme Hick at second slip to leave the home side on 36-2.

Jonathan Trott and Kumar Sangakkara took Warwickshire to 65-2 at lunch. But Kabir put Worcestershire in the driving seat with wickets in successive overs. Sangakkara (20) nicked a catch to Phil Jacques at first slip, then Kabir had Trott (27) caught at third slip.

That left Warwickshire on 86-4 and there was no addition to the score before rain and bad light forced the players off for the final time.