ANDRE Nel is hoping his spell with Essex will give him the inside knowledge required to send England packing this summer.

The South Africa paceman was left out of the Proteas squad for their recent tour of India due to quotas over the number of coloured players included in the squad.

The decision left Nel feeling angry and confused, but he buckled down to lead his Titans side to the semi-finals of the Standard Bank Pro20 Seris competition before arriving in the UK last week.

And now the seamer is hoping to force his way back into the South Africa squad for their tour of England, which starts in July.

"I never wanted to get involved with a political issue but that's what I've been caught up in," said Nel, who began his third spell at Essex by taking five wickets in victories over Northants and Kent.

"The selectors were telling me to get prepared for the India tour but then I found myself out of the squad.

"They told me they were sorry but there was no cricket reason they could give for leaving me out.

"We need to try to improve the selection process and show there is a right way to go about things because at the moment I feel the coloured cricketers are being put under even more pressure."

However, the 30-year-old is expecting to return for the Springboks' tour of England this summer - and hopes to use his month-long stay at the Ford County Ground to ready himself for the four-match Test series.

"I hope to be included. All I can do is pray with all my fingers and thumbs," Nel, who has taken 119 wickets in 34 Test appearances, added.

"Being at Essex for this period will help me prepare in these conditions ahead of South Africa's tour.

"If I don't get selected then we'll see what possibilities come up elsewhere."

Should he fail to make the England touring party, Nel admitted a place in next year's Indian Premier League was among his remaining ambitions.

"It's a good concept and adds a new dimension to the game," he observed.

"Hopefully I can find a gap and get involved myself. Next year I will probably play if there's space."