England at crossroads

Vaughan faces selection dilemma for third test

By Charles Froggatt, CNN

NOTTINGHAM (CNN) -- As South Africa reinforces its test-winning lineup with all-rounder Jacques Kallis, England and newly-appointed captain Michael Vaughan find themselves at a selection crossroads as they attempt to come back after last week’s drubbing at Lord’s.

After losing by an innings and 92 runs in the last test, Vaughan is now left with the choice of restructuring his squad with new, younger players or selecting the older, tried and tested players.

“I know you have to rock the boat a few times and upset a few players,” Vaughan told Reuters

But, if the new captain is to instil any confidence in the selection process, he must face the possibility that his new recruits could fail in the short term -- and be prepared to back them if they do.

Otherwise he must place his faith in the likes of predecessors Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart, and hope his side can sneak a win in the third test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, starting Thursday. After drawing the first test at Edgbaston, England trails the five-match series 1-0.

Selectors have called up in-form Kent batsman Ed Smith who has hit six centuries this season, off spinner Gareth Batty and pace bowler James Kirtley.

But how much patience will Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher give to any new players coming into the team? Smith's county teammate Robert Key has felt the sharp edge of the selector’s knife already after failing to score heavily in this summer's test series with Zimbabwe.

Key held a regular spot in Hussein’s side on the Ashes tour to Australia over the winter, playing in four of the five tests, but it appears the selection committee no longer trusts in the young batsman after he averaged just 17.

And now Anthony McGrath seems to have become the first scapegoat for England’s latest failure, despite scoring two fifties in the two test matches against Zimbabwe.

With veteran bowler Darren Gough retiring from test cricket, Nasser Hussain’s place in the side also seems in doubt. The ex-skipper, whose 62 at Lord's was undermined by the carelessness with which he threw away his wicket, may well have been dropped had Graham Thorpe -- England's premier batsman of the last decade -- been declared fit for a return to the test side.

Reputation and loyalty could be the first casualties under Vaughan's cutthroat regime as the new man in charge ponders how his side can compete in the next game.

“All in all, it was a pretty poor performance,” he said. “I don’t think we were as hungry as them.”

If England is to close in on South Africa and Australia at the top of test rankings, then there's no doubt the team needs to be settled. Whether continuity will be a feature of the Vaughan era, is yet to be seen.

But it is not all gloom for England. In Andrew Flintoff, whose cameo century was the highlight for the home side at Lord's, it has an all-rounder with the potential to be as good as Ian Botham.

Vaughan has also proved himself as one of the game's great batsmen, scoring three centuries and averaging 63 Down Under against arguably the best cricket side in the history the game, topping the world batting rankings.

At least Vaughan shouldn't have to look too far for advice on his new dual role as captain and batsman.

Promoted to the South African captaincy at the age of 22 after the host nation's World Cup disappointment, Graham Smith has quickly adapted to the pressures of test leadership, scoring 621 runs in three innings, including 277 at Edgbaston -- the highest-ever test innings by a South African.

 

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