England Squad for 1st Cornhill Test v Zimbabwe
England today named a 13 man squad for next week's 1st Cornhill Test Match against Zimbabwe at Lord's
ECB Media Release
13-May-2000
England today named a 13 man squad for next week's 1st Cornhill Test Match
against Zimbabwe at Lord's. (May 18-22)
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Steve Harmison pictured with Durham's last Test player, Simon Brown Photo © Paul McGregor |
Durham pace bowler Stephen Harmison wins his first call-up to the Test squad
and there are also recalls for Warwickshire's Nick Knight and Ed Giddins.
Announcing the squad, Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney said: "With a
number of bowlers unavailable through injury, we wanted to find the right
combination to support Andrew Caddick and Darren Gough.
"We considered a number of bowlers including Angus Fraser, Martin Bicknell and Alex Tudor. What swung the decision was Stephen Harmison's extra pace and Ed Giddins' ability to swing the ball.
"The final make-up of the attack will depend on our first sight of the
wicket and the information we get about the likely weather conditions at
Lord's during the Test Match."
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Zim Test Series: |
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18-22 May 1st Test at Lord's 1-5 June 2nd Test at Trent Bridge Full Itinerary |
"Mark Ramprakash will open the batting with Nick Knight batting at six - a
position from where he has scored a Test Match hundred before. With a double
hundred under his belt already, Nick has enjoyed good early season form and
I know that he is desperately keen to get back into the Test squad."
Commenting on his selection, Stephen Harmison said: "I was thrilled to bits
when David Graveney called to tell me I'd been picked. I thought I was in a
chance when a number of people dropped out through injury and I'm delighted
to be in the squad.
Harmison added: "If I am in the final eleven, it will be even more special
to make my international debut at Lord's. I've only played there once before
for Durham in a Championship game two years ago against Middlesex when we
won by one wicket and I was lucky enough to pick up seven wickets in the
match."
Full squad:
Nasser Hussain (Captain)(Essex) Born: 28.03.68, 47 Tests Michael Atherton (Lancashire) 23.03.68, 95 Andrew Caddick (Somerset) 21.11.68, 30 Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire) 06.12.77, 6 Ed Giddins* (Warwickshire)20.07.71, 1 Darren Gough (Yorkshire) 18.09.70, 36 Stephen Harmison* (Durham) 23.10.78, 0 Graeme Hick (Worcestersh) 23.05.66, 54 Nick Knight* (Warwickshire)28.11.69, 12 Mark Ramprakash (Middlesex) 05.09.69, 38 Chris Schofield (Lancashire) 06.10.78, 0 Alec Stewart (Surrey) 08.04.63, 95 Craig White (Yorkshire) 16.12.69, 8 * denotes non-contracted player
The ECB also confirmed today that Dean Headley will continue as an England
contracted player despite him being unable to play for the next three to
four months with a back injury. The player will undergo spinal surgery at a
hospital in Nottingham on Monday.
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Dean Headley retains contract despite injury Photo © Paul McGregor |
International Teams Director, Simon Pack, said: "Dean's contract was fully
insured and the policy covers the cost of contracting a replacement player
in case of injury. We are not planning to award a full England contract to a
replacement player in the immediate future, although the option of doing so
remains subject to EMAC (England Management Advisory Committee) endorsement.
"Dean's first priority will be to concentrate on making the fullest and
earliest recovery. But we shall also want to use him in an ambassadorial and
PR role for the team - a task he will perform extremely well."
Test Match Tickets:
Tickets are available for all five days of the 1st Test and prices for adults
start at £18 with children under 16 entitled to half price reductions. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the game from the North Gate at Lord's.