In principal, I don't see the point naming a 17-man squad. But realistically, not many more will have a realistic chance of being picked for the 1st Ashes test.
There is only 1 place up for grabs for the 1st test (providing Flintoff is fit) and that is for the 4th seamer/2nd spinner role. Strauss, Cook, Bopara, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, Prior, Broad, Swann and Anderson will be in the XI barring injury.
The other 1 has basically shoot-outs between Rashid and Panesar for the 2nd spinner spot if they go down that route (and I hope it isn't Panesar after the start he's had) and Onions or Sidebottom for the 4th seamer if they go down that route.
That's a 14-man squad sorted already so including a 2nd keeper, which given his quality in the T20 WC with the gloves, may very well be Foster you only need to find 2 sub batsmen (who will more than likely be 2 who have played against Australia already, so Vaughan and Bell).
Harmison shouldn't be let within a mile of the England squad, even if he has a ticket for 1 of the tests. His 'can't be bovvered' attitude shouldn't be rewarded.
He wasn't even that great when on form IMO. He was comfortably the 4th best bowler in 2005 for me and that was 4 years ago and he continually fails to impress after 2nd chances.
Hoggard has upset someone high up in the ECB I think. There's no other reason for ending a bowler's test career after 1 bad test in NZ (for which his reasons are completely justifiable) after 7 @ 29.29 in Sri Lanka.
Mahmood will continually be too inconsistent to be international class til he retires. The same guy who can bowl bullet straight 94mph deliveries also serves up 83mph half-volley's. That's not good enough.
Doesn't really leave many options, so the squad (not mine, but what I think it'll be):
BAT:
Strauss*
Cook*
Bopara*
Pietersen*
Collingwood*
Vaughan
Bell
AR:
Flintoff*
Broad* (in the eyes of the ECB, not me. Lol)
WK:
Prior*
Foster (or Ambrose, but I doubt it after being dropped for Prior)
SEAM:
Anderson*
Sidebottom
Onions
SPIN:
Swann*
Rashid
Panesar
Fin!