Selection 'headaches' for Strauss as selectors opt for five-pronged bowling attack

Published on Saturday 4 July 2009 19:29

ENGLAND are expected to follow the successful framework established in 2005 when they select their line-up for the first Ashes Test in Cardiff on Wednesday.

National selector Geoff Miller is due to announce the eagerly-awaited squad for the first Test this morning, when England are expected to name a 13-man party designed to give them options on that first morning.

That is expected to include the 11 players who featured in the warm-up match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston this week and include a spare batsman and bowler to cover for last-minute injuries.

But whoever is included in Miller's squad, England have already revealed they are likely to follow the 2005 blueprint by playing five front-line bowlers to take on Australia this week.

Under Michael Vaughan's captaincy four years ago, England relied on all-rounder Andrew Flintoff alongside specialist seamers Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones, while Ashley Giles provided the spin option. This time England will follow a similar pattern although captain Strauss is favouring two spinners if conditions suit, as they are expected to do in Cardiff.

"I like the idea of five bowlers so it depends on conditions whether you play four seamers or two spinners," said Strauss. "It's very early to say that about five bowlers in every match but if everything goes according to plan we'd like to play five bowlers. We're very confident we have two very good spinners. Monty Panesar has been away for a while but I still have a huge amount of faith in him and believe he can take wickets at international level and Swanny (Graeme Swann] has had an unbelievable 12 months.

"Put those two together, they're very different styles of bowlers, and if it's turning and offering something for them that's going to be hard work."

Panesar and Swann are expected to claim the two spinner slots in the squad but there are big discussions planned on the identity of the spare seamer, with Durham pair Harmison and Graham Onions competing with Nottinghamshire's Ryan Sidebottom for the final place. Harmison and Onions have impressed for England Lions against Australia in Worcester while Sidebottom claimed two wickets for Nottinghamshire in the current match against Lancashire at Trent Bridge to give the selectors a tough choice.

"We know Harmy can do that," said Strauss. "It's great to see him bowling with rhythm and I always think when he's shaping it a bit, that's a good indication that his rhythm is right.

"Yes, he has bowled with rhythm and hostility and we know he can bowl like that. It's fantastic and it certainly gives us more options to think about. We've got a few selection headaches. We've got the XI that played against Warwickshire, a few guys in the Lions squad and Ryan Sidebottom who is playing for Notts as well.

"There are a lot of names in the mix but what I like at the moment is we have huge number of differing types of bowlers to pick from.

"There are a lot of options and I suppose one of the challenges for myself and Andy Flower is to pick the right 11 for the conditions we face."