LONDON, 18 September 2005 — England believe the country’s back-up players will perform a crucial role on this winter’s testing tour of Pakistan when Michael Vaughan’s men look to take their Ashes-winning form to another level.
Chairman of selectors David Graveney stressed on Friday the importance of picking the right characters to supplement the team. All 12 of the players who represented England in the Ashes are set to be named in the touring party tomorrow alongside four other players, whose roles on the trip may be little more than bit-part. That quartet will be made up of an understudy to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, a second spinner, at least one fast bowler and possibly an additional top-order batsman.
There are plenty of individuals vying for a spot — a 17th name could be announced to stand by should Simon Jones need surgery on his ankle injury — and temperament is viewed at the same level as ability by the current management.
“People have said the success of your touring party comes largely down to the quality of your back-up players and there is some logic to that,” said Graveney.
“You can have problems with illnesses just on the morning of the game. So the choice of back-up players are people who are comfortable, if you can say that, playing at a short moment’s notice.”
One of the biggest points of debate is who will be sent as reserve gloveman with Nottinghamshire’s Chris Read and James Foster, of Essex, both of whom have Test experience, facing the challenge of Sussex batsmen-cum-wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Ironically, while Read is viewed as the best in the country behind the stumps, his 2005 first-class batting average is also far superior to his rivals.
Read, 27, originally lost his place due to coach Duncan Fletcher’s preference for a batsman who could keep, rather than a keeper who could bat. The fitness of Simon Jones — which will not be known for at least a week — has complicated the issue as to whether the squad opts for spin or pace.
Gareth Batty has been spinner Ashley Giles’ deputy in recent times but he has endured a barren summer for Worcestershire while Gary Keedy, Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann and Alex Loudon may also enter the spin equation.
“Simon Jones’ fitness report is relevant to that decision,” Graveney added. “The current situation is that he is resting for a fortnight and we’ll have a closer idea what the implications are then. “You can’t cover all the bases. We have to decide whether we need two extra batsmen or two spinners, or two seam bowlers.”
Pakistan, meanwhile, must concentrate on controlling England’s Ashes heroes Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen in the forthcoming cricket series, vice-captain Younis Khan said in Karachi yesterday. “We can’t let them get away. Because they are match-winners and play the spinners well they will hold the key to the series in Pakistan and India,” he said.
“They are a destructive pair and they can turn a match around with their positive approach. They made the difference in the Ashes series.” Pietersen, in his debut Test series, was England’s highest scorer against Australia with 473 runs in the five Tests while Flintoff dominated with bat and ball, scoring 402 runs and taking 24 wickets.
England will tour Pakistan from Oct. 26 to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals before going to India in March.
England captain Michael Vaughan said this week his side needed to do well in Pakistan and India to have a chance of changing the world rankings that still have world champions Australia in the top spot.
“We haven’t been to the subcontinent and won yet. If we play good cricket over there, I’m sure the rankings will change,” Vaughan said.
Younis, who has scored four hundreds in Pakistan’s last eight Tests, said Pakistan faced a tough series against England.
“They have just beaten Australia and any side which has done even reasonably well against Australia in recent times has gone on to perform in their next series,” he said.
“India beat us last year after doing well in Australia and we had a good time in India after our tour to Australia. England’s confidence will be sky-high and they will fancy their chances of double success in the sub-continent.”
