Pace bowler Darren Gough, who has not played Test cricket for two years, was recalled to the England squad on Friday for the first Test against South Africa, starting at Edgbaston next Thursday.

Gough, 32, whose international career appeared finished because of long-term knee problems, performed well in the recent one-day triangular series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

He wins back his place at the expense of Richard Johnson, who has been suffering from a groin injury.

"We need his experience and his quality," said England chairman of selectors David Graveney.

However, there is no room for Surrey left hander Graham Thorpe, who opted out of the Ashes tour of Australia because of personal problems. Anthony McGrath, who scored two half-centuries against Zimbabwe, retains his place in the middle order.

Thorpe, England's best middle order batsman over the past 10 years, said last weekend he was keen to play for his country again.

"We are obviously pleased that he wants to commit himself to playing for England both home and abroad," Graveney said. "But we felt we want to show consistency. Anthony McGrath has done nothing wrong."

Batsman Robert Key, who played in the winning two-Test series against Zimbabwe, has been dropped.

England - Nasser Hussain (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Anthony McGrath, Alex Stewart, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, James Kirtley, James Anderson, Steve Harmison.