Graeme Hick, dropped ten times by England and now omitted from the elite Test dozen, can still fight his way back into international contention.

England chairman of selectors David Graveney yesterday refused to rule out any candidates when he named the 12 contracted players to serve England in the summer's series against Pakistan and Australia.

''I would never say about anybody that a line has been put through their name.

"There are still plenty of opportunities for other people to be involved,'' insisted Graveney.

Hick, a member of the special squad last year, will be happy to note that England called up 23 players last year and used 19 despite the introduction of a contracted squad for the first time.

In 2000 Graham Thorpe began the season with no contract after deciding to tour South Africa in the winter.

But the Surrey left-hander fought his way back and was England's top batsman during the series victories in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Hick's cause was not helped by the fact that England decided to pick only six batsmen, one less than last year.

Initially at least it is that spot which Hick will be chasing if England decide to go into a Test with seven batsmen.

Graveney said: ''There are a lot of people in the market, lots of contestants for that position, young and experienced.

''The selectors took on board the observation from last time that we were overloaded with batsmen and the aims of central contracts is the protection and control of the bowlers.''

Hick has not scored a Test half-century for 12 innings and six hundreds in 65 Tests is below the potential promised when making his debut in 1991.

It had been a lucrative 12 months for Hick and his England colleagues with bonuses and prize money during a year of four Test series victories mounting up to £1million in addition to the remuneration package.

Mark Ramprakash, Andy Flintoff and Chris Schofield were other omissions from last summer's list in addition to Kent's fast bowler Dean Headley, who has been forced to quit the game because of back trouble.

This time Thorpe, Marcus Trescothick, Dominic Cork, Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard have been drafted in.

Cork's contract is conditional on him ''passing a medical'' and Graveney says the all-rounder must ''prove his match fitness''.

The Derbyshire all-rounder sustained a back injury during the first leg of the winter's business in Pakistan and did not go to Sri Lanka.

Warwickshire's left-arm spinner Giles blossomed in the winter to replace Schofield while Hoggard strengthens the quick bowling unit, though he is the least experienced internationally with just one Test appearance.

The results themselves provide solid evidence the contract system has worked, especially to the benefit of new-ball bowlers Darren Gough and Andy Caddick.

The players will be split once more into payment bands, though the England Cricket Board would not reveal any financial details.

But the package looks set to range between £30,000 to £60,000 with captain Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Alec Stewart, Thorpe, Caddick and Gough in the top flight.

Retainer payments last year came to between £400,000 to £500,000 in addition to compensation agreements with the counties for enlisting their players for England duty.

In future years consideration will probably be given for an increased squad, although Graveney said: ''There were financial considerations for the board.

''I believe we are very much in the learning curve of what central contracts are all about. Winning produces consistency in selection and we just had a clearer picture.''

l There were a couple of surprises and plenty of familiar faces when the EWCB announced the 12 players who will be offered six-month contracts for the forthcoming Test series against Pakistan and Australia.

We take a closer look at some of the more interesting beneficiaries of the new central contract system , that has coincided with England recent Test success both home and abroad

Dominic Cork (Derbyshire): Missed the series in Sri Lanka after picking up a back injury in Pakistan, but the EWCB have kept faith with the all-rounder ahead of Robert Croft.

Cork finished the series against the West Indies with an average of 22.50 and was the pick of the bowlers, racking up 20 wickets. His experience is sure to set him in good stead for the Ashes.

Ashley Giles (Warwickshire): Having finished with best figures of four for 11 in the final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo to follow up his 17-wicket haul in Pakistan, there was little doubt the left-armer would be among the 12 contracted players.

The spinner will be hoping for more of the same against the Aussies.

Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire) Went on the Sri Lanka tour but did not play in the Tests. Given the nod for the Ashes series because of the expected seam-friendly conditions.

Hoggard does not bring much experience with him, having appeared in just one match against West Indies at Lord's last season, scoring an unbeaten 12 and bowling 13 overs, including three maidens, for 49 runs.

Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire): Had a good series against the West Indies where he was England's third-best batsman.

However, he missed the entire series in Pakistan with a calf injury and managed just one Test in Sri Lanka.

But the Manchester-born right-hander should be back to full fitness in time to face Australia.

Craig White (Yorkshire): His performance in Pakistan was much more notable than in Sri Lanka.

His highest score of 93 helped him finish second in England's batting returns. He also picked up nine wickets in the three Tests.