Ramprakash and Hick are excess baggage for tour (24 August 1999)

24 August 1999

Ramprakash and Hick are excess baggage for tour

Mark Nicholas

Now that the blood is spilt, now everyone, even people not remotely interested in the game, have been made sadly aware of the awfulness of the England team, the tack should be changed.

Vitriol has made its point and laying into blokes who lose cricket matches is in danger of becoming a sport in itself. It is right that cricket, sport generally, matters, otherwise there would be little point in it, but not so much that the space granted to these public executions loses its balance.

The players deserve a deal of what they get, for they have pushed lack of charm, shoddy performance and unintelligent appearance, which suggests general surliness, to the limit. They are, however, placed on an absurdly high and unmerited pedestal and it is from here that they have become sitting ducks.

It is a fact England do not have many outstanding cricketers right now. Until the administrators do something about the gulf between under-19 and Test cricket this will be permanent. There are, though, some good enough cricketers who, if properly organised in the head, are able to do better than expected in South Africa. The touring party must blend experience with young faces, fresh and determined characters and a calm, mature approach. The first four in the batting order against the South Africans last summer were Atherton, Butcher, Hussain and Stewart, in that order. And in that order they should stay. I cannot see a way to exclude Stewart, whose wicketkeeping positively sparkles, whose fitness is clear and whose batting, as long as the ball comes on to the bat, still impresses opponents.

Sadly, and a year ago I couldn't imagine saying this, I cannot include Ramprakash or Hick. There is so much baggage, so much mental confusion, stress and blame poured upon them that their performances must be affected. Of course, Ramprakash has more in him, and perhaps the Hussain-Fletcher partnership will want their chance to prove as much, but, as it stands, he is a no-no.

The other three batting places should go to the hungry and talented Chris Adams - but do not expect technical ideals with Adams, rather more of a fearless, combative impression - Nick Knight, another like Adams, who fields like an angel, bats lefthanded anywhere in the first six, preferably at six where he has made a hundred for England before; and Yorkshire's Michael Vaughan, whose straight bat and uncomplicated thinking edge out Darren Maddy's overt keenness, good foot-work, but disappointingly hard hands which could be exposed by South African bowling.

Two young all-rounders, Andrew Flintoff and Gavin Hamilton, have more to offer England's future than the committed Ronnie Irani and the respected Mark Alleyne. The spinners pick themselves. Phil Tufnell because he is the best of an average bunch - whither Robert Croft now? - and Graeme Swann for his real, all-round potential.

The fast bowlers rather pick themselves, too. Darren Gough and Alex Tudor should to be fit and will play immediately, along with Andrew Caddick. South African batsmen are not comfortable against left-arm pace, so Alan Mullally is in and so, probably, are Ed Giddins for his swing, and Dean Headley for his heart and stamina. The options are Chris Silverwood, who gets the nod from the county circuit, and Matthew Bulbeck, the strongest under-19 bowler in the land.

Which leaves the question of the second wicketkeeper. Apparently the selectors have told Chris Read he will tour. Mistake. Read has plenty of talent and most probably, when a properly balanced England team emerges from the wreckage, will keep wicket and bat well at number eight or nine. If Stewart is chosen, then he will certainly play in the Test team and so a replacement good enough to bat in the first seven is essential if the initial policy of selection is to be followed through. Two county stumpers, the energetic Paul Nixon, who is desperate to represent his country, and Rob Turner, a cooler, more backroom boy who is making stacks of runs, attract attention.

This touring party must allow the selection of a Test team who bat a long way down the order. The batsmen must play their own game without fear of recrimination but need to concentrate their preparations on basic methods and mental discipline. The bowlers must pitch a little fuller and aim a mite straighter. If the touring party set out to have fun, to embrace the country they are visiting, and to spend more time in the nets than on the training ground, they may surprise themselves.

Test XI: Atherton, Butcher, Hussain, Stewart, Vaughan, Adams, Hamilton, Tudor, Swann, Caddick, Gough.

Other tourists: Knight, Turner, Mullally, Headley, Giddins, Tufnell.

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