Wash-out may be a blessing in disguise for tired tourists; New boys will get their chance as visitors seek to improve on woeful record, says Dominic O'Reilly 3 Edition

England will benefit from an influx of fresh personnel with five players in the one-day squad who took no part in the Test series - Darren Gough, James Kirtley, Andrew Strauss, Anthony McGrath and Ian Blackwell - as well as Paul Collingwood, Rikki Clarke and James Anderson whose contribution was lim...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSunday herald (Glasgow, Scotland)
Main Author O'Reilly, Dominic
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Glasgow (UK) Gannett Media Corp 18.04.2004
Subjects
Anderson, James
Gough, Darren
O Reilly, Dominic
Solanki, Vikram
Strauss, Andrew
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Summary:England will benefit from an influx of fresh personnel with five players in the one-day squad who took no part in the Test series - Darren Gough, James Kirtley, Andrew Strauss, Anthony McGrath and Ian Blackwell - as well as Paul Collingwood, Rikki Clarke and James Anderson whose contribution was limited to substitute fielding and carrying the drinks. [Vikram Solanki]'s downfall has been loose cross-batted shots but it seems strange that there is no place for him in the middle order. Having Andrew Flintoff biffing boundaries while Solanki caressed the ball around from the other end would send the bowlers into despair. The problem facing the selectors is that the first Test against New Zealand starts at Lord's 10 days after the players fly back from the West Indies. The Kiwis are a far tougher side than the West Indies and England need their strike bowlers to be fit and fresh.