ON_DEVON_MALCOLM_20JUN93

Malcolm stakes claim for recall Neil Hallam on the Derbyshire bowler's new lease of life By Neil Hallam Derbyshire have been severely weakened by injuries to their basic squad of 14 senior players this season but captain Kim Barnett will happily sacrifice Devon Malcolm to England's cause if the fast-bowler is recalled today for the second Test against Australia. Since insisting "I need England and England need me," last weekend, Malcolm has turned in a persuasive burst of hostile form and Barnett said: "They should pick him while he's hot. He deserves it. "Too often in the past he's been called up when he's not been bowling well or not been in great nick physically. Certainly he's been picked for England several times when he wasn't bowling anything like as well as he is now." Malcolm, cast into the outer darkness after England's dismal trip to India and Sri Lanka last winter, began his hot streak with three wickets in seven balls against Middlesex last Sunday. He followed up with a withering opening spell against Northants in the Benson and Hedges Cup semifinal win last Tuesday, claiming three for 23 in 10 overs and ending up unlucky to miss out on the Gold Award, according to both Barnett and the eventual winner, vice-captain John Morris. Barnett said: "Dev bowled magnificently against Northants, fast and straight, and the fact that he and Allan Warner got them off to a shaky start was crucial. "He didn't do a lot in India, where pitches were hardly in his favour, but he's come back in a very keyed-up mood and he's determined not to let that be the end of him as a Test player. "In fact, he's been quick and fiery all season but the rewards were not really there in the championship until the game against Yorkshire this week." Barnett has often been critical of England for blunting Malcolm's effectiveness with over-use, but he had difficulty persuading his fast bowler to relinquish the ball during spells of 11 and 13 overs, which earned him four for 57 in Yorkshire's first innings. Richie Richardson, the world's top-rated batsman, was beaten repeatedly as sheer strength and will wrenched some life from a flat pitch. The West Indies captain said: "Devon looked very good. I've no doubt that in this form he could do a good job for England. "He bowled two long spells but he kept a good line and concentrated on swinging the ball." Barnett added: "England have got find something to unsettle the Aussies now they've got their tails up, and nothing is more likely to do that than raw pace, which is what Devon has." Barnett sees Somerset's Andrew Caddick, who made his Test debut at Old Trafford, as the ideal new-ball partner for Malcolm. It will baffle Barnett if Malcolm is not taken from his injury-hit squad to face Australia and try to add to his 77 wickets from 24 Tests. Thanks::::Sunday Telegraph posted by Vicky (VIGNESWA@ecs.umass.edu) on r.s.c.