Lloyd urges young talent to join `Team England` (21 May 1997)

Wednesday 21 May 1997

Lloyd urges young talent to join `Team England`

By Andrew Collomosse

COACH David Lloyd yesterday urged a new generation to follow Ben Hollioake through the "Team England" dressing-room door.

After watching Hollioake, 19, in his first full workout with the England squad before tomorrow`s start of the Texaco Trophy series against Australia at Headingley, Lloyd said: "If you believe young players are good enough, you have to back your judgment and accelerate them through regardless of how much county cricket they have played.

"It is by no means out of the question that England will have two players below the age of 20 playing Test cricket before the end of the summer. If they perform, they will be given a chance."

Nor, for that matter, is it inconceivable that the recalled Phillip DeFreitas, 31, might also find himself back in the Test arena before the summer is out.

The Derbyshire seamer was bullish about his prospects yesterday. "I must have had as many comebacks as Frank Sinatra," he said. "Just say Old Brown Eyes is back.

"But even though the record books say I am 31 I can still run around like a 19-year-old. I have just had my first winter off for 12 years and I didn`t realise how much I needed the break.

"After taking over 20 wickets in the championship I don`t think I can be written off as a one-day player. It`s great to be brought back at the start of the build-up to the 1999 World Cup but I still want to play Test cricket for England."

First, though, England must negotiate the three-match Texaco series. And Lloyd treated with suspicion suggestions that the Australians may be less than 100 per cent committed to the oneday fare.

"Their build-up has not gone according to plan, which is something we have learnt to live with ourselves recently. Defeat at Worcester and rain at Durham won`t have done anything for the feel-good factor.

"But they are the best team in the world and we have to match their mental strength. The spirit in our camp is excellent, though. We have created a Team England atmosphere and no one can tell these boys anything about national pride. This one-day series is the first port of call in a long summer. We`ll get this one out of the way then start talking about six Tests."

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)