MICHAEL FINCH, Johannesburg | Tuesday 6.00pm.
ENGLAND included three uncapped players in a squad of 12 named on Tuesday for the first Test against South Africa starting at the Wanderers on Thursday.
Although coach Duncan Fletcher refused to elaborate on the squad, the selection of batsmen Michael Vaughan and Chris Adams, together with all-rounder Gavin Hamilton, marks an attempt to transform the fortunes of a team rated as the world’s worst in Test cricket.
While both Vaughan and Adams are certain to play, a final decision on Hamilton’s inclusion will not be made until Thursday morning, depending on the state of the pitch.
If Hamilton plays, Vaughan’s off-breaks will offer the only variety in an otherwise all-pace attack. The other option is to include left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell.
However, with Hamilton adding extra substance to a brittle batting order, he may get the vote ahead of Tufnell.
England were able to get in a full training session on Tuesday morning before a heavy afternoon shower prevented South Africa from practising.
The hosts were later forced to use the indoor nets.
Opener Mike Atherton, who captained England during the 1-0 test series defeat on their previous tour of South Africa in 1995-96, was adamant that England were eager to recapture their form.
”Admittedly we haven’t played that well over the last few years,” Atherton said. ”But we have some talented young lads in the team like Vaughan, Adams and Andrew Flintoff.”
It was Atherton who played the major role in forcing a draw during the second test at the Wanderers on that last tour when he scored an unbeaten 185 — an epic match-saving innings that lasted 643 minutes.
Squad: Mark Butcher, Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain(captain), Michael Vaughan, Alec Stewart, Chris Adams, Andrew Flintoff, Gavin Hamilton, Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough, Allan Mullally, Phil Tufnell. — Reuters