No boot camp for Footitt

Stuart Broad has predicted that Mark Footitt, England's surprise pick for the pre-Ashes camp, will be a serious contender for the Investec Ashes against Australia and suggested that when he gets to Spain he will at least be spared some of the boot camp rigours of previous vintage.

To prepare for previous Ashes series, Andy Flower, the former team director, preferred outward bound style experiences designed to build unity through shared hardship or visits to battle fields and concentration camps intended to bring a sense of perspective to young minds.

The trip arranged in 2010-11 was organised by the ECB's security adviser, Reg Dickason, and came under the auspices of the Australian police force. James Anderson and Chris Tremlett, two England fast bowlers, suffered rib injuries in boxing matches. Minor misdemeanours were punished by hundreds of press-ups.

Graeme Swann wrote in his autobiography that he hated every minute of it and joked: "I would gladly be England cricket's first conscientious objector."

Broad expects England's introduction to Trevor Bayliss to be more cricket orientated. "I think it's going to be a planning trip, the guys getting together and talking about how we want to play our cricket, how we want to beat Australia, the coach having his ideas.

"I'm sure there'll be some bowling over there, some fitness, fielding etc. It's only a three-day camp, so we haven't got time for everything but I don't think we'll be in tents and at 3am holding bricks above our heads."

Footitt, Derbyshire's left-arm pace bowler, a rare commodity in English cricket unlike their rivals Australia, took the most wickets overall in domestic cricket in 2014.

"Footitt's had a fantastic year and a half: left-armer, slightly different, swings it," Broad said. "He's consistently put his name in the hat really. He trained with us at Lord's before the first Test of the summer and was impressive in the nets.

"We've got 14-15 guys who could potentially play in the Investec Ashes and it's important everyone is on fire in knowing the way the team want to play, knowing the plans and knowing the new coach as well.

"I think he's been included because he's taken a load of wickets in county cricket. I think it's exciting, it shows that if you perform in county cricket you do get recognition. He's taken a lot of Division Two wickets at a really good average and he'll want to test himself at the top level.

"I've played a lot against Footy, we were the same age group growing up and he's done incredibly well since he's gone to Derbyshire. He'll be excited to hopefully get an opportunity but of course he will be bowling at the guys as a left-arm option. There are not that many left-armers in England so it will be great to see what he can do."