England follow form horses

By Martin Gough

Twelve years split Kabir Ali and Martin Bicknell, the two pace bowlers called up by England for the fourth Test against South Africa.

Twelve years split successful county performers Ali and Bicknell

Both have solid county pedigrees but the benefit of experience must battle the exuberance of youth before the final XI is decided.

England's management were accused recently of paying little attention to the county game, but this summer they have done so with increased success.

Much of the current side - players like Steve Harmison, Marcus Trescothick and even captain Michael Vaughan - were called up with little county pedigree.

Poor pitches and mediocre opposition, it was argued, made county records - good or bad - irrelevant when choosing the Test XI.

Players who have in the past been picked on the basis of their county records have generally proved the policy correct. Think James Ormond or Ryan Sidebottom.

But there has been an about-turn this season, especially in the bowling corps, as players who have continually battered on the door of the selection room have finally been given a chance.

Richard Johnson waited 11 years - averaging 38 wickets a season despite injuries - before he got his shot against Zimbabwe at Chester-le-Street.

But he repaid the faith shown by the selectors in picking a 28-year-old seamer by returning figures of 6-33.

MARTIN BICKNELL Born: 14/1/1969 First-class career : Surrey 1986 - 2003 972 wickets at 24.54 Tests: 2 (1993) 1-155 v Aus at Leeds 3-99 & 0-9 v Aus at B'ham

James Kirtley's 454 wickets in eight years gained him little other than nine one-day internationals and a clutch of unsuccessful Test squad call-ups until Trent Bridge.

Another pace bowler to have celebrated his 28th birthday, he was really celebrating on Monday when he finished off the South Africa innings for figures of 6-34.

Age, as well as county performance, is apparently becoming the vogue, luckily for Ali, whose website reveals he has dabbled in fashion modelling.

Once the gamble on a semi-fit Darren Gough failed, the selectors have felt a need for a wise head in an inexperienced attack.

But they have been forced to tread a fine line between calling up players with potential and making sure they have sufficient experience to cope at Test level.

Lancashire's Glen Chapple, uncapped at 29, was called up for Trent Bridge but did not make the team.

And 34-year-old Martin Bicknell's two Test caps came so long ago that he can almost be counted as a novice, despite his 972 wickets - 54 a year - for Surrey.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney described Bicknell, who faced Australia in 1993, taking 1-155 at Headingley, as "one of the unluckiest guys around, not to be selected".

KABIR ALI Born: 24/11/1980 First-class career: Worcs 1999 - 2003 167 wickets at 25.74 Tests: 0

"He is a very consistent performer for Surrey and has been an integral part of their success over the last few years," he added.

But a perceived lack of pace has been cited in the past as reason why that county success would not translate in the Test arena.

Ali has been part of the one-day squad in Australia and at home this summer, without seeing any action - his debut at Headingley was a wash-out.

The Worcestershire bowler has the two best returns in county cricket this year, bettering his 8-58 against Derbyshire with 8-53 against Yorkshire just last week.

If injury were to rule Harmison out he would not be a direct replacement, as he is skid-and-swing rather than pace-and-bounce.

There remains the possibility that both could play, should England decide to take the increasingly rare step of going without spinner Ashley Giles.

But a single net practice in Leeds on Wednesday morning is the only chance this pair will get before a final XI is announced.