Ormond not written off

Ormond has taken just a single wicket in New Zealand

James Ormond has the potential to be a fine Test performer, according to bowling coach Graham Dilley, despite his low profile throughout England's tour of New Zealand.

Ormond attracted his biggest headlines of the winter at the beginning of the first-class section of the trip, when he was one of several new arrivals criticised for lacking fitness.

Coach Duncan Fletcher questioned their desire to succeed at the top level.

And nearly all of the Test-only players have been put through intensive fitness training over the last few weeks to get them up to the levels required.

There are no excuses for not being fit any more

Graham Dilley

Having been penciled in to open the Test attack this winter, Ormond did so once in the first Test in India before being relegated to the sidelines with figures of one for 70.

He took a single wicket in his only tour match in New Zealand, against Otago in Queenstown.

But, even though the new Surrey signing looks unlikely to receive a central contract when the 12 are named in April, Dilley is in no doubt as to his ability to make his mark at Test level.

"Jimmy has the potential to be a fine Test match bowler," claimed Dilley, who played 41 Tests for England and claimed 138 victims in an international career spanning 10 years.

"He does all the things that you'd like him to do - he bowls what we call a heavy ball, makes the ball leave the bat and swings it in as well.

"But everyone needs to work hard at their fitness, we can all be fitter.

"These guys are athletes and you have be a top athlete to perform at this level, and it has been fairly well documented that Jim has a fair bit of work to do.

"There are no excuses for not being fit any more."

Strength in depth

Andrew Flintoff partnered Matthew Hoggard with the new ball in the remaining Tests in India, Andrew Caddick returned to the side in New Zealand.

And Darren Gough will be available for the summer Test series against Sri Lanka and India.

Flintoff's bowling has impressed this winter

"There is some strength in depth with our bowling which is good and it's encouraging to see the progress Hoggard and Flintoff have made this winter," added Dilley.

"I've been pleasantly surprised at the job they've done this winter.

"They have shown maturity beyond their years and they've bowled in a fashion that, at the same development stage of my career, I wasn't capable of.

"They've worked as a unit of three and apart from one spell they haven't let anyone get away from them."