Trott called up as Flintoff fears grow

Published on Tuesday 4 August 2009 22:48

ENGLAND have called up uncapped Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott as possible cover for all-rounder Andrew Flintoff for this week's fourth Ashes Test at Headingley.

Concerns over Flintoff's right knee have prompted the selectors to consider their options if he fails to recover in time for Friday's next Test – including the prospect of playing Trott as one of six specialist batsmen.

Trott has been included in a 14-man squad with left-arm spinner Monty Panesar dropping out of the squad from the drawn third Test at Edgbaston while left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom has been called into the squad for the first time in this npower series.

"In choosing our squad for this Test, we decided to omit a second spinner as Headingley is not usually a ground where two spinners are required and therefore Monty Panesar misses out on selection this time," said national selector Geoff Miller.

"We will need to carefully assess the pitch and the overhead conditions at Headingley before finalising our 11 for this Test and the inclusion of Steve Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom will give us different types of pace bowling options."

Harmison has been included despite suffering blistered feet during Durham's championship win over Sussex at Chester-le-Street last week, but the biggest fitness concern again surrounds Flintoff. He has needed injections to get through the last two matches in his final series before retiring as a Test cricketer

South African-born Trott, 28, struggled in his only previous experience of international cricket, scoring just 11 runs in two Twenty20 internationals against West Indies at the Oval three years ago, but impressed during the Academy's tour of New Zealand last winter.

Millre said: "His inclusion will provide us with the option of playing six batsmen if we feel this is appropriate. We will continue to closely monitor Andrew Flintoff's fitness in the build-up-up to Headingley. His right knee will be reassessed by our medical staff over the next 48 hours and no final decision on his availability will be taken until closer to the start of the Test."

England are due to assemble in Leeds today for practice as they attempt to shrug off the disappointment of failing to secure victory on the final day at Edgbaston and claim the win they require from the final two Tests to regain the Ashes.

Australian batsman Marcus North wants Flintoff to be fit for the last two Ashes Tests so Australia can say they beat an England side at full strength.

North played a key role in preventing the hosts taking a 2-0 series lead with a determined 96 to force a draw in the third Test at Edgbaston and said: "We want to play the best side we can play against when we play any other country. We have already seen the impact that Andrew Flintoff has had on this series. He had a quiet game with the ball but he had that explosive innings with the bat.

"We want to walk away, taking the Ashes back home, beating a full-strength England side."

Meanwhile, the colourful England fans group known as the Barmy Army have denied they were responsible for the booing of Australia captain Ricky Ponting in the third Ashes Test.

The barracking of Ponting has been criticised as being against the spirit of cricket but Katy Cooke, general manager of the Barmy Army, said it had not come from them.

"We weren't responsible for the booing of Ponting," Cooke said. "From what I can gather it was pretty tongue in cheek. He is one of the best, if not the best, batsman in the world and if we can do a bit to get under his skin and stop him concentrating 100 per cent on his batting then we are doing a service to the England team."