England send for Bicknell at last

Steven Lynch

August 18, 2003

England's selectors have sprung a surprise by recalling Martin Bicknell, the Surrey seamer, into their squad of 13 for the fourth npower Test against South Africa, which starts at Headingley on Thursday. Also called up is Worcestershire's Kabir Ali: Glen Chapple and Gareth Batty, who were both in the squad for the third Test at Trent Bridge but missed out on selection, have been dropped altogether for Headingley.

Bicknell, who's now 34, played two Tests against Australia ten years ago in 1993, taking four wickets at 65.75. Since then, he has been a consistent performer in the strong Surrey side, although ironically this year he has shone less often than usual - so far he has taken 40 wickets at 27.77, including his third five-for of the season in Surrey's most recent victory, over Nottinghamshire at Whitgift School. That haul included his brother, Darren, who now plays for Notts. It will be a surprise for Bicknell, who told Wisden Cricket Monthly recently: "I gave up on England about three years ago. I don't give it a moment's thought."

David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, explained: ""Bicknell is one of the unluckier players not to be selected before. He's sometimes been injured but Andrew Caddick and Darren Gough have been the mainstay of our attack. Their absence has created opportunities for others."

Meanwhile Kabir Ali, 22, marked his omission from the third-Test side by taking 8 for 53 in Worcestershire's two-day win over Yorkshire at Scarborough. Those were the best figures of the season at the time, beating Kabir's own 8 for 58 against Derbyshire at Worcester, and his overall figures this season are an impressive 57 wickets at 21.19. Contrast that with Chapple's 30 wickets at 37.86 and you begin to understand why there was so much headshaking at New Road last week when the Trent Bridge squad was announced. Chapple, though, has picked up an ankle injury which precluded his selection

At least one of them seems certain to play, as although Steve Harmison retains his place in the squad he is doubtful with the calf injury that hindered him at Trent Bridge. Graveney said that he remained the selectors' first choice, but admitted: "If Harmison's calf was the same as it was yesterday [Sunday] it would be foolhardy for us to send him into a Test match."

If Headingley serves up its usual seam-friendly surface, then both Bicknell and Kabir might be included, although that would be harsh on Ashley Giles, whose batting has improved this season (and don't forget that Anil Kumble took seven wickets at Headingley last year). But both newcomers can bat a bit too. Bicknell has scored two first-class hundreds this season, while Kabir has passed 50 twice as well. England's victory in the exciting third Test at Trent Bridge has set up the series beautifully. England will be looking to replicate the events of 1998 against South Africa, when they lost at Lord's, but came behind to snatch the series with victories at Trent Bridge and Headingley.

England squad Michael Vaughan (capt), Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Ed Smith, Alec Stewart (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Martin Bicknell, Kabir Ali, James Kirtley, James Anderson, Steve Harmison.

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Players/Umpires

Kabir Ali

Martin Bicknell

Series/Tournaments

South Africa tour of England

Teams

England

South Africa