Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath was still bleary eyed from a middle-of-the-night fire alarm scare in the team hotel in Northampton on Saturday when he received a dramatic call into the England squad for Thursday's first Test against Zimbabwe at Lord's.

The 27-year-old batsman was breakfasting with his teammates when he answered his mobile phone to find England chairman of selectors David Graveney on the line.

To McGrath's astonishment, Graveney told him that he had been included in the party of 13 as a possible replacement for all-rounder Andy Flintoff who is doubtful.

Graveney's news served as a wake-up call for McGrath who had to vacate the hotel in the early hours, along with his teammates and other guests, when the fire alarm went off.

Everyone was stood outside in the damp night air for at least half-an-hour, several of the Yorkshire players in their bare feet. It was almost an hour before guests were allowed to return to their rooms.

"I could hardly believe the news I was hearing when I answered by mobile," said a stunned McGrath. "It came right out of the blue and it was the last thing on my mind at that moment.

"I am absolutely delighted because it shows I am in the England selectors' thoughts, and even if I don't play on Thursday it is still a big step in the right direction.

"I feel I am hitting the ball well but have not yet managed to go on to make a very big score so far this season."

Ironically, it is McGrath's improved medium pace bowling which had as much to do with his call-up as his batting.

Last season, McGrath bowled more for Yorkshire than ever before and he ended up top of the averages with 18 Championship dismissals 27.66 runs apiece.

Graveney has monitored his performances and knows that England can get some overs out of McGrath if need be.

It's been an incredible year so far for McGrath who was also taken by surprise in March when he was unexpectedly appointed Yorkshire captain in place of Australian Darren Lehmann who announced he would be unavailable for the county this year. This season, McGrath has scored 166 Championship runs in five innings and has hit two half-centuries. He has also captured four wickets.

* Pakistan's former captain Wasim Akram announced his retirement from international cricket last night.

The talented all-rounder, who combined left-arm pace bowling with some explosive lower-order batting, has decided he will no longer play for Pakistan and instead intends to concentrate on coaching or media work.