Gough's return may be put on ice (17 July 1999)

17 July 1999

Gough's return may be put on ice

Michael Henderson

It is often claimed, usually without a shred of common sense, that selectors should not tinker with a winning side. It is hard to think of England as a winning side but they have just beaten New Zealand at Edgbaston in 2.5 days. With one notable exception, therefore, there will be little disagreement about the composition of the team for the second Test at Lord's next Thursday.

The exception is Darren Gough, and the deliberations on his return to first-class cricket will occupy the selectors when they gather tonight. Gough played for Yorkshire this week after missing the last month with a calf injury, and he took seven wickets in the match against Warwickshire that ended yesterday.

A fully fit Gough will always take his place in the England team. The selectors, however, may take the view that there is a considerable difference between fitness and match fitness, and keep Gough waiting until the third Test, at Old Trafford, to resume his Test career.

There will undoubtedly be a serious debate on this issue. Nasser Hussain, naturally, wants his best bowler by his side at all times, and will press for his inclusion if Gough assures him that he is ready. But, by sending Gough to Scarborough next Tuesday, where Yorkshire are playing Northamptonshire in a championship match, the selectors may argue that they are acting in his better interests.

England picked five quick bowlers for the last Test and left out two, Dean Headley and Chris Silverwood. Andrew Caddick performed very well on his recall, taking eight wickets in the match, and Alan Mullally's position is safe, which leaves Alex Tudor the most vulnerable to Gough's return.

Tudor has clouded the argument by making that excellent 99 not out as the nightwatchman at Edgbaston. The fact that he was not selected for his batting is irrelevant.

England are not so well off with talented young cricketers that they can ignore a 21-year-old who performed with the elan that Tudor displayed on that peculiar Saturday two weeks ago. To exclude him would be nonsensical, so he will retain his place in the 12-man party and Silverwood will step down.

There will also be some discussion about the opening position, in which Alec Stewart looked so uncomfortable. The former captain made one run at Edgbaston, and missed two chances at slip. All in all he cut an unhappy figure and it is hard to suppress the thought that his time has come and gone.

He should really have been stood down after losing the captaincy. That said, having decided to stick with him the selectors are duty-bound to give him another chance and so he will open with Mark Butcher. Should he fail again he will make way for a younger man for the second half of the summer.

There is excited talk of Michael Atherton being ready to return to the top of the order. Although Hussain and his fellow selectors will note the unbeaten 268 he made against Glamorgan at Blackpool as evidence that he is sufficiently fit to play a long innings, he will have to play a few more if he is to return to the Test team.

A fit Atherton, in decent form, may still have something to contribute to the England cause. But one innings, however impressive, is not a reliable indicator of form or fitness. He has missed so much cricket in the past year, starting when he withdrew from the final Test of last summer, against Sri Lanka, that it must remain doubtful that he will play again for England.

This, of course, is the sort of thing that makes this cussed man want to prove people wrong, and let's hope he does.

If he plays for England this summer, though, it will be down to others' failings as much as his own virtues. Darren Maddy and Michael Vaughan are waiting for the call if Stewart is ditched.

Chris Read, who began what should be a bright international career behind the stumps at Edgbaston, taking seven catches and a stumping, will play his first big game at Lord's. The only spin bowler he will keep to is Phil Tufnell. The pitch, next door to the one used for the World Cup final, is not expected to assist the slow bowlers.

Probable England 12: M A Butcher, A J Stewart, *N Hussain, G P Thorpe, M R Ramprakash, A Habib, -C M W Read, A J Tudor, A R Caddick, D W Headley, A D Mullally, P C R Tufnell.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph