Tufnell back in England squad: Hussain deputy skipper (12 Sep 1996)

12 Sept 1996

Phil Tufnell back in England squad; Nasser Hussain deputy skipper

Rediffusion on the Net

Out goes one maverick - to wit, Chris Lewis. In comes another - the reformed Phil Tufnell.

The England selectors on Tuesday handed the slow left-arm bowler yet another chance to come good, when they picked him for the forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

Tunfnell, who has taken 74 wickets in domestic cricket this season, was last seen in an England cap against Australia in January last year. A series of disciplinary problems ensured that he sat out the rest of 1995, and the twin series against India and Pakistan this summer as also the World Cup.

Chairman of selectors Raymond Illingworth indicated that Glamorgan captain Mike Gatting had handed in a glowing report on Tufnell`s reformation, which had paved the way for the bowler`s selection. What provided the spur was a career best 13 foe 123 against Lancashire last weekend.

Joining Tufnell in the spin department is Robert Croft, England`s most impressive find during the final Cornhill Test at the Oval and the subsequent Texaco Trophy series against Pakistan.

The other surprise inclusion in the England side for the twin tours is Yorkshire fast bowler Chris Silverwood, who joins Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick, Dominic Cork and Allan Mullally as the seamers in the side.

Interestingly, though Adam Hollioake was impressive against the Pakistanis during the recent Texaco Trophy one-day series against Pakistan, Ronnie Irani has been preferred for the all-rounder`s slot.

India-born Nasser Hussain`s performance as captain of the England A side on last winter`s tour of Pakistan has earned him the vice captain`s berth, ahead of Alec Stewart. Illingworth said that Stewart, Michael Atherton`s deputy, was already into his thirties and that, therefore, the younger Hussain was promoted with an eye to the future.

Stewart will, however, get a chance to concentrate on his batting thanks to the recall of regular stumper Jack Russell, who was dropped for the third England-Pakistan Test and also for the oneday series that followed.

The batting department holds no surprises, with Atherton, Hussain, John Crawley, Nick Knight, Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe all more or less selecting themselves.

The team: Michael Atherton (captain), Nasser Hussain (vice captain), John Crawley, Nick Knight, Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, Phil Tufnell, Robert Croft, Ronnie Irani, Chris Silverwood, Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick, Dominic Cork and Allan Mullally.

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