da betsson： Alec Stewart, England’s most-capped player, retained his place inEngland’s 13-man squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe, whichstarts at Lord’s on Thursday (May 22)
Steven Lynch17-May-2003Alec Stewart, England’s most-capped player, retained his place inEngland’s 13-man squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe, whichstarts at Lord’s on Thursday (May 22). Lancashire’s James Andersoncomes in for his Test debut, and there is also a first call-up for AnthonyMcGrath, the Yorkshire batsman, and Sussex fast bowler JamesKirtley.Stewart may have turned 40 in April, but he has played in 126 Tests,scoring 8187 runs and making 260 dismissals. He recently suggestedthat he shouldn’t be considered for England’s one-day team any more,but made no such pronouncement about his Test career. Worries overthe fitness of Andy Flintoff – he missed the latest round ofChampionship matches with a shoulder problem – probably helpedStewart to survive ahead of a clutch of highly rated young keepers, suchas Chris Read, James Foster and Geraint Jones.The surprise name among the batsmen is McGrath, 27, who wastipped for stardom as a young player – he toured Pakistan withEngland A under Nasser Hussain’s captaincy in 1995-96 – but morerecently has been something of an underachiever. But this season hewas appointed as Yorkshire’s captain, when Darren Lehmann decidedto have a year off, and has made an impressive start. He can also fill inwith a few overs of medium-pace, and with Craig White and PaulCollingwood also unfit, this was crucial. David Graveney, England’schairman of selectors, explained: “Our chief medical officer willcontinue to monitor the situation with Andrew Flintoff and we arehopeful that he will recover in time for the Test match. We discussed atlength the type of player that we would need as cover for Andrew andwe have gone for Anthony McGrath as a batsman who can share therole of fifth bowler with Mark Butcher.”McGrath was predictably pleased: “I was surprised and delighted to getthe call from David Graveney. I think I have been in good form thisseason so far and played pretty well without getting a really big score.I’m enjoying being Yorkshire captain and I’m really looking forward tojoining up with England next week.”Robert Key retains his place ahead of John Crawley and younghopefuls like Bilal Shafayat and Owais Shah. Graveney said: “We feelthat Robert is very much part of England’s future. But we would stressthat John Crawley has not let England down in the past and he hascertainly not been removed from our future plans.”A Test call completes an amazing year for Anderson, who was playingfor his club, Burnley, at this time last year. But his consistent form sincebeing called up for England’s one-day squad in Australia, plus injuriesto Darren Gough (hamstring) and Andy Caddick (foot ligaments), madehis selection for Lord’s a formality. A hat-trick against Essex earlier thisweek – including Hussain as the middle victim – didn’t do him anyharm either.Caddick’s absence also allows room for Kirtley, 28. He’s a skiddyfast-medium bowler from Sussex whose whippy action has attractedthe scrutiny of the ICC in the past, in the course of nine ODIs forEngland, in which he has claimed seven wickets – and one amazingone-handed diving catch, to dismiss Sourav Ganguly at Lord’s lastyear. Graveney explained: “He has been in good form for Sussex thisseason. He fully deserves a chance in the longer form of theinternational game. We did not consider Chris Silverwood, RichardJohnson or Alex Tudor as replacements for Andy Caddick because theyare all carrying injuries at present.”If Flintoff is fit to play, McGrath is likely to carry the drinks, with one of the pace bowlers standing down as well unless the overcast weathercontinues. In that case Ashley Giles might miss out – no Englandspinner has taken a wicket in the three Lord’s Tests played in Maysince 2000.Whatever the final selection, England will start as favourites for theTest, the first of a two-match series. Following a spate of retirementsafter the World Cup, Zimbabwe have only one player (Grant Flower)who has scored a Test century, and there are fitness doubts aboutHeath Streak, their captain and main strike bowler. The only other timethese two sides met in a Test at Lord’s, in 2000, England won by aninnings early on the fourth day. Ed Giddins (remember him?) took 5 for15 and 2 for 27 as the ball zigged and zagged on a helpfulearly-season pitch.England’s 13 for Lord’s:Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain(capt), Robert Key, Anthony McGrath, Alec Stewart (wk), Andrew Flintoff,Ashley Giles, James Kirtley, James Anderson, Matthew Hoggard, SteveHarmison.