Need for speed

England considers five-man seam attack for fourth test

LEEDS, England (Reuters) -- England could opt to select Martin Bicknell and Kabir Ali in a five-man pace attack against South Africa, captain Michael Vaughan said Wednesday on the eve of the fourth test.

"We haven't ruled out playing them both," Vaughan told a news conference. "Five seamers is a possibility.

"Spin hasn't bowled many teams out here. We'll make a decision pretty late."

Bicknell, aged 34 and with just two caps, and Ali, yet to play a test, were added to the squad after England levelled the series at 1-1 with victory at Trent Bridge.

Dependable left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, who has struggled to take wickets during the first three tests, could make way although the final decision has been confused by fitness doubts over fast bowler Steve Harmison.

He came through a light session Wednesday but his injury -- a back problem that sparked pains in his calf in the third test -- will be assessed again just before Thursday's start.

England is the favorite to take the series lead, traveling 70 miles (112 kilometers) miles north of Trent Bridge to Vaughan's home ground. A win would put the home side in an unbeatable position before the final test at The Oval.

"The momentum is with us because we've just won," Vaughan said. "That game's gone now (and) we're back in the series. We've really have to focus our minds and try to play well again.

"Over the last two test matches what we've learnt is the first day is very crucial.

"The first day at Lord's, we were out of the game. The first day at Trent Bridge, we set up the game. So hopefully (tomorrow) we'll try and set up the game like we did in Trent Bridge."

Headingley has produced some of the most exciting test matches in England in recent years, with swing and seam bowlers dominating in overcast conditions but batsmen flourishing in sunnier weather.

England destroyed West Indies in two days at Headingley in 2000. Mark Butcher, meanwhile, hit a match-winning test-best 173 not out against Australia in 2001.

Last year the bat dominated again, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly all scoring first-innings centuries to set up India's innings win.

"With Leeds, you always know there is going to be a good game of cricket," Vaughan added. "The wicket can be flat and then it clouds over and the ball swings and seams.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his side would prove its superiority to England, despite conceding the advantage in the five-test series.

"We want to prove we're the better team playing the better cricket," Smith told The Associated Press. "I don't feel we were beaten by a better team on a better wicket.

"We are sure we were beaten by the wicket. We're not feeling down on ourselves, and still feel we haven't lost the momentum even through the series is 1-1.

"The side is hungry to come back. We're not upset (with the result) we're more disappointed. We can produce the kind of cricket we played in the first two tests, and it is about taking responsibility in the batting and bowling departments.

"We're irritated at the result. England wanted to do well at Trent Bridge, rightly so they did. It's up to us now to bounce back."

South Africa will be without playmaker Shaun Pollock who returned home to Durban after Trent Bridge to be with his wife Trisha, who is expecting their first child. The allrounder will rejoin the squad for the final test.

"We didn't have Jacques (Kallis) in the first two tests, but we still played well (and won)," said Smith. "They are big shoes to fill and we'll manage some how."

South Africa will replace an out-of-form Jacques Rudolph with fellow left hander Gary Kirsten, who missed the last test with a torn muscle in his right hand. The tourists will choose between seam and swing bowlers Dewald Pretorius and Charl Willoughby to replace Pollock.

If the pitch remains true to its tradition -- seamer friendly -- South Africa might select both Pretorius and Willoughby and drop leftarm spinner Paul Adams, and name a five-man seam attack.

Lineups:

England (from): Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Ed Smith, Alec Stewart, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, James Kirtley, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Martin Bicknell and Kabir Ali.

South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Boeta Dippenaar, Mark Boucher, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Dewald Pretorius, Charl Willoughby and Paul Adams.

Umpires: Simon Taufel, Australia, and Billy Bowden, New Zealand.

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.