Tour calls for three Glamorgan players

The England selectors have brought some good news today for three Glamorgan players - Robert Croft, Simon Jones and Mark Wallace - following the announcement of England`s squads for their forthcoming winter tours.

Robert Croft has been chosen in a 16 man party for the senior tour to India and New Zealand. The Indian leg of the tour spans November to Februaury, and includes 3 Tests and 5 One Day Internationals. The same number of One Day Internationals and Tests will then be played in New Zealand between February and April.

The squad for India and New Zealand also includes left-armer Ashley Giles of Warwickshire and off-spinner Richard Dawson of Yorkshire as the other specialist slow bowlers. After a frustrating time during the 2001 Ashes series, Robert will be eager to press his claims for a regular place in the England side over the winter months, and with 49 Test wickets to his name, he is likely to become the first Glamorgan bowler to take 50 Test wickets for England whilst touring the sub-Continent.

Mark Wallace and Simon Jones have also been chosen for the inaugural E.C.B. National Academy visit between October and March to Australia. For Simon, this is the first time he has been recognised at representative level.The young bowler has shown rich promise with his pace during the past few weeks, and his controlled spell of 3-36 in the second innings at The Oval was a feature of Glamorgan`s fine victory over Surrey.

Another feature of this victory was the neat wicket-keeping and obdurate batting of Mark Wallace, who scored 63* and 18* in Glamorgan`s 3 wicket win. The winter visit to Australia, and a spell under former Australian wicket-keeper Rodney Marsh is a worthy reward for the former England Under-19 captain who during this summer has secured a regular berth in Glamorgan`s Championship side, and has impressed many fine judges with his glovework.

The E.C.B. Academy visit to Australia is in two parts, with the 16 young players departing on October 27th after a preparation week at RMA Sandhurst. During November and December the youngsters will be based at the Australian Academy in Adelaide, and will play a four day match against their Australian counterparts, as well as one day matches against the South Australian Cricket Association Academy, and participating in a one day Tournament at Adelaide involving the Australian Cricket Board Under 19 side, the Bangladesh Cricket Board Under 19 side, the South Australia 2nd XI, and the Queensland Association of Sport.

After flying back to the U.K. for Christmas, the Academy players will then return to Australia early in January for a series of four day games against the Victorian Cricket Association 2nd XI, the Australian Capital Territories 2nd XI, the South Australia 2nd XI, and the Western Australia 2nd XI, in addition to taking part in a one-day Tournament at Sydney involving the Australian Cricket Academy, the New South Wales 2nd XI, and the New South Wales Colts.