da aviator aposta： England’s team selection remains a closely guarded secret ahead of the first Test at Kandy, as Michael Vaughan weighs up his options
Andrew Miller in Kandy30-Nov-2007
Steve Harmison looks an unlikely starter in Kandy, with James Anderson favourite to complete England’s fast-bowling line-up © Getty Images
England’s team selection remains a closely guarded secret ahead of thefirst Test at Kandy, as Michael Vaughan weighs up his options on awicket that, with 24 hours to go until the start of the match, alreadylooks barer and drier than either of the captains had envisaged.Although Vaughan said that he was pretty clear in his own mind as towhat the final composition would be, he refused to rule out anyoptions, not even the inclusion of a second spinner in Graeme Swann.”It’s been a difficult decision,” said Vaughan. “We came to the groundyesterday to see a wicket that’s very green, and we’ve come to theground today and found it’s changed a fair bit. We’ve had a couple oflong meetings about the final eleven, which proves we’ve got playersin the squad who are pushing for places. It’s been a hard decision butwe’re clearer about it now.”Kandy has long been earmarked as England’s best opportunity for avictory in this series, given the cooler hilly conditions and thepropensity for swing and seam, and Vaughan insisted that England werecommitted to selecting a side that would give them the best chance oftaking 20 wickets in the match. On the subject of Swann’s inclusion,he offered an enigmatic “maybe”, and made light of the fact that hebarely featured in England’s two warm-ups.”I think you can make too much of the warm-ups,” said Vaughan. “A lotof the guys have just been on the one-day [tour], and so we all feelmentally ready and in good touch. It’s just a matter of trying togroove those skills and make sure our mentality is right for Testmatch cricket. We need to work on our plans and strategies against alltheir unorthodox players.”The one man who does seem likely to sit out, despite anotherwhole-hearted net session, is Steve Harmison, whose prospects havebeen in jeopardy ever since he suffered a back spasm during England’swarm-up in Colombo last week. “He’s available, and he bowled a hell ofa lot yesterday,” said Vaughan. “But it would be a slight risk as wesaw him walk off having bowled ten or eleven overs in the last game.”I think the pitch offered a bit more for the quicks yesterday,” saidVaughan, as he added a further reason for Harmison’s probableomission. “If you bowl well on any wicket, as a good seam bowler youcan get something out of it. But I think looking at that pitch you’regoing to have to have all your skills available, and be verycontrolled. I guess that’s one of the reasons why we’ve come to theeleven we have.”James Anderson, who was again lively in practice, has pushed his wayup the pecking order since recovering from a bruised left ankle, andis the favourite to join Matthew Hoggard, Ryan Sidebottom and MontyPanesar in a four-man attack. There is a chance of a fifth bowlingoption if Ravi Bopara is handed a chance to make his debut at No. 6,but England seem wary of his inexperience in a top-order that – giventhe weakness of the lower order – simply has to fire first-time.”It could go right to the wire, so we have to bat well and the top sixneed some big scores,” said Vaughan. “[Bopara and Shah] are both veryskilled players, and in these conditions they are very suited to thisstyle of play. They both play spin very well, theylike the reversing tailing ball into the pads and they play it well.It’s a real hard decision as to which gets the No. 6 spot.”At the opposite end of the spectrum is a tail that seems inordinatelylong for the challenge that awaits, particularly from Muralitharan.Though their chances were limited to one innings, Nos. 8 to 11 didn’tmanage a single run between them in the warm-ups, and Vaughan admittedit was a concern. “We’d love to have guys who can get fifties andhundreds, and who’s to say they can’t. But I just want 20 wickets. Wehave to try to pick the right bowlers to get 20 wickets, which is apositive step to try and win. If we miss out by a few runs in thebatting, so be it, I’d rather go for the wickets.”The tail-enders have been working hard in the nets since England’sarrival, but the onus is undoubtedly on England’s specialist batsmento give the team the necessary platform. But they’ll achieve nothingif they cannot neuter the threat posed by Muralitharan. “He doesn’ttotally dominate our thoughts, as that would be disrespectful to theother players in their team,” said Vaughan. “But we’d be silly not toput him at the forefront of our minds.”The likes of [Lasith] Malinga, [Chaminda] Vaas and [Dilhara] Fernandoare unorthodox in their own way, but the teams that come over and aresuccessful in Sri Lanka all play Murali well,” said Vaughan. “Everyonewill play him in their own individual fashion – some will try to grindhim out, others will try to attack him. That’s all I ever say, as longas you have a plan, go and do it.”England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Michael Vaughan (capt), 3 Ian Bell, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ravi Bopara, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Ryan Sidebottom, 9 Matthew Hoggard, 10 James Anderson, 11 Monty Panesar