Battle for Ashes resumes Thursday at Headingley

By Vic Mills

LEEDS, England (JP): The battle for the Ashes, currently tied at 1-1 in a best of six series, resumes Thursday with the fourth Test at Headingley.

In an unusual move, the England selectors have reaffirmed their faith in the players beaten at Old Trafford by naming the same squad a fortnight ahead of schedule. The players were told of their reprieve before heading home to their counties after the first Test.

Under the regular timetable, the squad would have been announced last weekend, four days before the start. The chairman of selectors, David Graveney, sped up the process for two reasons. He was keen to avoid prolonged speculation and to give his deflated players "the right sort of vote of confidence".

There is little doubt that had Graveney not taken this action, then the intervening two weeks would have witnessed a growing clamor for changes instigated by the tabloid press.

Despite playing substandard cricket throughout the five days at Old Trafford, it is easy to forget that this was England's first defeat in eight Tests.

Moreover, that there were two phases in the match when England were in control. Indeed, with the series tied, there is still much to play for.

The bullish mood of England players and management has evaporated somewhat since the heady days after Edgbaston. They have lost momentum at an unfortunate time, but to break up the unit that has been together for some time would have been to its retirement.

Previous selectors have erred by changing the team too often, making it impossible for the building of team spirit that has been a feature of England's cricket in the past few months.

In what may prove to be an inspired decision, the current selection panel, consisting of two former England captains in Mike Gatting and Graham Gooch, added Mike Smith, the Gloucestershire left-arm swing bowler, to their 12 from Old Trafford after fitness doubts last week over Dean Headley.

Even if there is no lateral movement off the Headingley pitch, it will be a rare Leeds Test if there is no deviation through the air, and Smith's reputation as a specialist in this department is growing by the week. His third 10 wicket haul of the season in the last county championship match against Derbyshire took him to the top of the national bowling averages with 55 wickets at 14.4 a-piece.

With Smith likely to win his first cap on Thursday, the final place in the side looks set to rest between Mark Ealham and Andrew Caddick. While his bowling remains negligently under-used, the Kent all-rounder is capable of scoring precious late order runs as he proved at Edgbaston and in the recent Benson and Hedges final at Lord's

Caddick, on the other hand, has appeared strangely lethargic in his work since the first Test. The English selectors could still spring a surprise and call up the extra pace of Devon Malcolm, but this is unlikely on a wicket that has tended to favor the medium pacers in recent years.

Since the Headingley Test strip was relaid four years ago, strenuous efforts have been made by Keith Boyce and Andy Fogerty, his successor as groundsman, to eradicate the sideways seam movement for which the ground was notorious.

The word from Headingley over the weekend was that Forgerty, concerned over the preparation of his nominated Test wicket, had actually cut another strip and was awaiting a visit from David Graveney before making a final decision.

Whatever the outcome, the wicket will again test the patience and technical ability of an England top order in which Alec Stewart, Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe and John Crawley will all be expected to score runs. No easy task on a wicket set to favor the bowlers and where the toss will be vital.

The likely England team for Headingley is: Atherton (captain), Butcher, Stewart, Hussain, Thorpe, Crawley, Ealham, Croft, Gough, Headley and Smith.