Owais Shah is absent with England Lions as Middlesex search for their first LV County Championship win of the season at Essex.

Shah scored 116 and 50 against Leicestershire in Middlesex's opening-day defeat, but he will play at the Rose Bowl against touring New Zealand and not make the trip to Chelmsford for his county's Division Two clash.

Fast bowler Chris Silverwood is still laid low by a knee injury, so his place in the 12-man squad is taken by Danny Evans.

Shaun Udal is named as the only frontline spinner and South African all-rounder Vernon Philander is in line to make his championship debut.

England batsman Andrew Strauss is named in the Middlesex squad, nine days before the first Test against New Zealand gets under way at Lord's. Nick Compton and Chris Peplow are named on standby.

Essex will be without seamer David Masters due to an illness in the family.

His place should go to Chris Wright, who faces the prospect of playing against his former county.

Andre Nel also returns after being rested for the tour match against New Zealand, which Essex were disappointed to lose after collapsing on the final day for 200.

Alastair Cook made 57 in the second innings and has a final chance to reach top form prior to the first Test, which begins at Lord's on May 15.

Cook is 106 runs away from reaching 3,000 career runs for his county, while all-rounder James Middlebrook is 101 away from 4,000 first-class runs. Tim Phillips is undergoing knee surgery and all-rounder Graham Napier will play for the second XI as part of his rehabilitation from injury.

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