The gloves are off in the battle to be England wicketkeeper.

Sussex's Matt Prior is in competition with Paul Nixon to play against West Indies next month after they were the only keepers named in England's 25-man performance squad for this summer's international action.

Also included is Sussex left-hander Mike Yardy, who is recovering from a broken finger and hopes to be playing again in June.

New England coach Peter Moores has left out the likes of Chris Read, Steven Davies and Geraint Jones to leave the battle for the gloves between Prior and his Leicestershire rival.

Nixon is the man in possession, having played in every game of England's ill-fated World Cup campaign after making his one-day debut at the age of 36 in January.

Prior, 25, played the last of his 12 ODIs a year ago in India and is desperate to re-kindle his international career under Moores, the former Sussex coach whom Prior insists has been the biggest influence in his career since they first worked together when he was 12 years-old.

Prior said: "I feel my game improved again this winter at the Academy and I just want to achieve the goals I have set myself this season, one of which was to get back into the England side so this is a start.

"If I do things right then that, as well as the determination I have, will hopefully get me where I want to go."

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "The wicketkeeping position remains a very competitive area - Paul Nixon and Matt Prior have been included but they will be aware that they face strong competition from players outside of the squad."

The squad is made up of the 12 contracted players, the nine not on contract who were in the World Cup squad together with Prior, Yardy, Middlesex's Owais Shah and Durham seamer Graham Onions.

Moores will be able to withdraw players from county cricket at his discretion but in practice this is unlikely to happen too often to non-contracted players such as the Sussex pair.

Last year there were 30 players in the squad and the reduction will allow Moores and his fellow selectors the opportunity to bring in five players who have performed well in county cricket.

Yardy had an operation to pin his finger on Wednesday and will be able to start aerobic training next week.

He said: "I don't think getting in a 25 man squad at this stage means too much but it's a boost for me when I'm not playing. I haven't set a target date for when I can get back. The worst case scenario from the doctors is six weeks but hopefully I will be back before then."