All change as Jones leaves the fast track

Second Test: Selectors are given unwanted chance to try out young hopefuls like Key as injury list lengthens

The Llanelli Express hit the buffers yesterday and forced England into yet another team change for the Second Test barely before he had left the station. Simon Jones, the fast bowler who made an exciting debut at Lord's in the opening match of the npower Test series, was forced out of the team by a rib injury.

His absence brought to nine the number of players who have been removed from selectors' discussions this summer. If this, rather unfairly, casts doubt on the ability of the central contracts system to protect players rather better than in the past, it further complicated yesterday's meeting of the panel.

It should have been a pleasant affair, discussing England's lordly triumph which gave them a 1-0 series lead, and anticipating with relish the match at Trent Bridge which starts on Thursday. It was no such thing. The chairman of selectors, David Graveney, and his committee were first contemplating the batting replacement for Graham Thorpe. They had probably alighted on the name of Robert Key, of Kent, by the time Jones' damage was confirmed as serious enough to warrant immediate rest, which meant they had to search for another seamer.

It is a blow, no mistake. Fast bowlers, particularly of Jones' extreme pace and talent to thrill, are not to be found on every street corner. Nor any longer, come to think of it in the week of Arthur Scargill's retirement, down many pit shafts. It was never as simple as that, of course, even when there were mines down which to shout, but true speed merchants are more precious than ever.

Jones showed at Lord's that he has the right stuff. He was truly fast and the batsmen knew it. He tickled their rib cages but not their fancy. It is a rib which has done for him now. The injury has been lurking around for much of the season and it made its presence felt early in Jones's first bowling spell in the Test.

The decision to pull him out of the Test is precautionary, rather than being based on any firm diagnosis. If it was the deciding match of the series or a one-dayer he would probably be risked. It is understandable that England are exercising such care. The fragility of his 23-year- old body has already been exhibited several times in his career and it is important that he is wrapped in cotton wool balls as often as possible. England have clearly taken the view that it is better to put the Llanelli Express in a siding for now rather than chance rushing him to a terminus too quickly.

Jones will presumably be replaced by Alex Tudor, whose discomfort with shin splints prevented his playing at Lord's. England were a tad annoyed at Tudor's latest breakdown but they can ill afford to show their displeasure by omitting him now. Chris Silverwood, the Yorkshire fast bowler, is likely to be on stand-by again.

If it was the unerring consistency of bowlers with self-belief that won the First Test, another solid batting display allowed England to do so. They missed out this time on 500 but it was not so long ago that they could barely scrape together 300. It is an invaluable change, and it is why the replacement of Thorpe will not have been made willy-nilly.

Thorpe has placed himself in temporary retirement while he sorts out his personal affairs. It is to be hoped he succeeds and makes a successful return because he has been a linchpin of England's revival. But he is aware that absenting himself presents an opportunity for someone.

The time is surely right for Key. This would probably involve changing the opening partnership again, moving Mark Butcher to number three once more and Nasser Hussain to four. Since Hussain scored a significant 155 at Lord's batting at three he may not wish to move again.

Another possibility would be to ask Key to bat at number five. Presumably the selectors have checked with him about this because while he is hardly in a position to turn them down, he has misgivings about going in down the order. While playing for the National Academy XI during the winter he went in at six, grew weary and uncomfortable waiting to bat and was out for nought. Key is a natural opener and that experience did nothing to persuade him otherwise.

Other options are Ian Bell, who is not in a rich vein of form, and Mark Ramprakash, who has scored two double hundreds and two single ones this season but has only made 20 runs in his last four Championship innings. If they were going to pick Bell, they should have done so months ago. As for Ramps, can we go through the torment all over again? As he averages 40 against Australia, this winter's tour destination, it is possible that the answer to the question should be in the affirmative. But he has had his chances and never quite taken them.

Key has been criticised for not going on to a hundred often enough after doing the hard work. Whereas Ramprakash has scored two hundreds in 92 Test innings. Key has a solid look and soft touch about him. Sure, if he succeeds it might complicate the issue when Marcus Trescothick is fit to return, but what a problem to have! England's full injury list this summer reads Mark Butcher, who has not missed a match but had an operation on a knee during the NatWest Series, Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick, James Foster, James Kirtley, Trescothick, Tudor and Jones. Add the unavailable Thorpe and you almost have a Crocks XI.

The absences of four certainties on that list enhanced their victory last week. It was a marvellous team effort under the auspices of a leader who is still growing in authority and strategic skill. How well Hussain deployed his bowlers and his fields. For instance, he ensnared Sourav Ganguly with his version of the three card trick. There were three men square-ish on the offside for the one which slides off Ganguly's bat and, lo and and behold, the Indian captain fell for it.

In India's first innings, Sachin Tendulkar was getting increasingly twitchy to get on with it. He looked fairly solid straight, so Hussain put temptation in his way. He moved his cover point to extra cover. Tendulkar played a horizontal bat shot aiming for the now vacant area and edged behind. It was adept bowling by Craig White and extremely acute captaincy. It lasted throughout the match.

Ganguly has proved himself no slouch and has gathered his team around him in a way you would not have thought possible, but Hussain is the man of the moment. He now has two things to do immediately. One is to try to secure England's fourth successive win with another reshaped team, the other is to win the Ashes. Oh, and a third thing to try to make the second happen. Get the Llanelli Express back on track again.

Possible squad for Trent Bridge: N Hussain (capt), M P Vaughan, M A Butcher, J P Crawley, R W T Key, A J Stewart, A Flintoff, C White, A F Giles, D G Cork, A J Tudor, M J Hoggard, C E W Silverwood.