England look certain to ditch the seven-batsmen policy for the Third npower Test in the knowledge that they must bowl Australia out twice if they are to have any chance of winning the Ashes
Graham Holburn29-Jul-2001England look certain to ditch the seven-batsmen policy for the Third npower Test in the knowledge that they must bowl Australia out twice if they are to have any chance of winning the Ashes.So far England have captured only 22 of the tourists’ wickets in the first two Tests so know they face a tall order. Their task is made no easier by the absence of skipper Nasser Hussain who, as expected, failed to recover in time from his broken finger. Once again, Michael Atherton will lead the side.In order to lend variety to the support bowling for Darren Gough and Andy Caddick, the selectors have added the names of Alex Tudor and Robert Croft to the squad for the Trent Bridge Test.Chris Silverwood is again named in the squad so it looks like a toss-up between him and Tudor, though the latter’s batting ability – as scores of 116 and 86 in the CricInfo Championship this summer testify – might make him favourite.For the first time this summer, England are likely to field a spinner and it will be down to Croft to do the donkey work on a flat Trent Bridge wicket.There is a certain irony that on the day Croft was brought back into the squad, his spinning rival Phil Tuffnell captured his 1,000th first-class wicket. In addition, Croft’s record in England – his 13 wickets in 11 matches have cost him 73.23 apiece – is hardly auspicious.However, the selectors feel that Croft offers continuity – a watchword for the current England set-up – after some reasonable performances in Sri Lanka during the winter.”We did not want to make wholesale changes to the squad for this TestMatch,” said chairman of selectors David Graveney.”But we feel we will need more variety in our attack at Trent Bridge and theinclusion of Alex Tudor and Robert Croft will give more bowling options.”Dominic Cork misses out this time as we have decided to go for the extrapace of Alex Tudor, who has performed well for Surrey this season since comingback from injury.”We wanted to show continuity of selection by including Robert Croft as hewas included in the squad earlier in the season and also performed very well onthe winter tour of Sri Lanka.”On the batting side, Usman Afzaal could win the battle with Ian Ward for the number six spot on his home ground, Ward having posted a highest score of only 39 since coming in against Pakistan in May.With Graham Thorpe (broken hand) and Michael Vaughan (knee) both out untilthe Fourth Test at Headingley, Afzaal could stake his claim for an extended run in the side. He is in form, having hit a century for Nottinghamshire in their current Championship game against Derbyshire.Graveney added: “After the last Test match, you have to hold your nerve against a side like Australia.”If you hit the panic button, it not only affects the people you leave out,but other guys that are still in and looking over their shoulders.”Phil Tufnell is always in with a shout for selection, but you also have tolook at the continuity aspect.”Croft did very well in the winter and we brought him back into the squad atEdgbaston and may be with hindsight, we should have played him there.”It was a close call, as was Alan Mullally, but Tudor would have beenselected had he not been coming back from injury for the last Test.”As far as Croft is concerned, Nottingham is a pretty flat wicket and Croftcan beat the bat from both sides. He is likely to have to spend a lot of timebowling overs.”And the fact that the pitch will not spin so much is not something that weare unduly concerned with. He will enable us to use our quicker bowlers in shortspells.”We have to get runs on the board – when we are batting second we are notgetting to 200, and under those circumstances it is very difficult.”We are getting players out at vital times when they have made 30 and 40,they are getting out in clutches, and out before and after intervals.”If you look at the difference between the sides, they have already got twoor three 100s in every Test Match, and we are not getting those scores. At theend of a series, those tallies hurt you.”Graveney also spoke of the injuries which have disrupted both selection andfinal team make-up.He added: “It is up to other people to say how they have affected us, but itis a huge thing to lose your captain.”It is very difficult for guys like Alec (Stewart) and Mike Atherton to comein as captain and try to keep the continuity going.”The injuries are a factor. We have lost five guys for this series alone, andthat affects you in any Test match you play.”Squad: Atherton, Afzaal, Butcher, Caddick, Croft, Gough, Ramprakash, Silverwood, Stewart, Trescothick, Tudor, Ward, White.