Unlike Harmison, whose rare asset of pace will always make him a favoured choice, the uncapped Swann knows that opportunities for a second spin bowler to work alongside Northants ace Monty Panesar may be limited in future.

"I have every faith in Reg Dickason (the team security officer) to come up with a good report, but I would not be 100 per cent happy going back," said Northampton-born Swann.

"At the moment I am not too keen. Playing the Tests could do some good for people in India, but you have to weigh that up and ask that if things are kicking off out there, then what good are you doing just providing another target?"

Swann's international career has been confined to 15 one-day games.

But the experience of the recent 50-over matches suggests that he will be a strong candidate to feature in the five-day side if the two matches go ahead, especially with the pace department likely to be seriously depleted.

Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson are also reluctant to return and Ryan Sidebottom is struggling with a back problem.

Captain Kevin Pietersen has said that any decision to pull out will not be held against individual players, but their absence opens the way for others to press a case. "It is tricky for people like myself who are struggling to forge a regular place," Swann said.

"It is a very difficult decision and not one that anybody will enjoy having to make."