International
Broad widens options
ENGLAND return home from
their Test series triumph in New
Zealand confident they now have
a bigger pool of internationalclass
bowlers to choose from for
the summer campaign ahead.
Coach Peter Moores and the
rest of the squad set off with
thoughts already drifting to the
summer's challenges following
their first overseas series win in
three years.
Moores' first job on arriving
back will be to identify an attack
for the opening Test against New
Zealand at Lord's on May 15 for
the start of the three-Test series.
Later in the summer calendar
there is the stiffer challenge of
attempting to match South
Africa in four Tests and Moores
will need an attack capable of
subduing their dangerous batting
line-up.
But Moores believes there is
the talent available with Stuart
Broad breaking through to battle
it out with Jimmy Anderson,
discarded duo Steve Harmison
and Matthew Hoggard and the
returning Andrew Flintoff.
Outside of the team now
you've got people like Harmison,
Hoggard and Flintoff, who are
experienced Test match cricketers
and that makes for a very
competitive environment because
the side which has just
played has won two Tests in a
row,'' enthused Moores.
From a bowling point of view
there is a broader base to select
from, which is very healthy.''
England are willing to remain
patient before they look at Lancashire
all-rounder Flintoff, who
is back playing again after a
fourth operation on his troublesome
left ankle, while they will
need to see success at county
level from both Hoggard and
Harmison at the start of the season
to consider their recalls.
But England could, potentially,
have enough bowling options
to pick a bowler for an individual
ground based on a history of
success on that particular pitch.
The first key is to make sure
all those bowlers are bowling
well and playing well in county
cricket if they're not in the international
set-up,'' said Moores.
We know certain bowlers
have good records in certain
places. For instance Harmison
has a good record at Old Trafford.
It would be nice to have that
challenge of fit bowlers bowling
well and be able to have to weigh
up our options. It's good for the
players for it to be competitive
and also we know that quick
bowlers get injuries so we need
cover.''
There is no doubt, though, in
captain Michael Vaughan's mind
that England have found a
bowler capable of cementing a
place in the side for a long time
in 21-year-old Broad.
The Nottinghamshire seamer
finished the series against New
Zealand with eight wickets from
his two Tests, but made key contributions
to both victories in
Wellington and Napier.
Stuart Broad is a massive talent
and very easy to captain and
for a 21-year-old you don't get
that very often,'' revealed
Vaughan.
8:48am Friday 28th March 2008
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