England call on Anderson to rise to global challenge

England, with their resources depleted, yesterday sprang no surprises in their 15-man squad for the World Cup. Injury and personal issues have robbed them of two of their potential match-winners, Darren Gough and Graham Thorpe, with the result that Nasser Hussain will lead an inexperienced squad to South Africa, and probably Zimbabwe, in a month's time.

For those picked, the chance to play in the biggest tournament in cricket should be amongst the highlights of their career, but with the issue of Zimbabwe becoming larger and more complicated by the day those 15 players will have had mixed emotions when they heard of their selection. Initial elation is likely to have been tempered by the uncertainty of what they could be letting themselves in for.

For the fast bowler James Anderson, however, selection for next month's tournament sets the seal on a meteoric rise from the Lancashire second XI to World Cup squad in less than nine months.

The chances of this group of players coming home with the trophy is slim. Some may even consider it an achievement if they were to qualify for the second round of the competition, the super sixes. Hussain will ensure that his squad will be competitive and give it their all, but there is a lack of quality and inspiration amongst them.

No player would come close to making a limited-over World XI and, with a bowling line-up that could contain three players with 10 caps or fewer, England must travel in hope rather than expectation.

David Graveney, the England chairman of selectors, said: "I am satisfied that the players selected in this squad represent the best mixture of experience and youth that England has available. The unavailability of several key players for various reasons over recent months has given us the opportunity to bring a number of young players into our plans. Several of these players have responded extremely well to the challenge and we have had no hesitation in including them in the squad."

Of the 15 named, three still need to prove they have recovered from injury to make the trip and this is something of a gamble when what has taken place this winter is considered. Andrew Flintoff and Ashley Giles returned to the UK from this winter's Ashes tour with groin and wrist injuries, but it will not only be their fitness which is of concern as both will be very short of match practice after playing little or no cricket for almost two months. However, news on the rate of their recovery is encouraging.

"Andrew Flintoff is making good progress in his rehabilitation work with Dave Roberts at Lancashire," said Graveney. "He has been bowling at around 90 per cent in the nets while experiencing much less pain. The indications from the England and Wales Cricket Board medical officer are that Andrew will be fit and able to play a full part in the competition.

"Ashley Giles has been given the go-ahead from his specialist to begin training and he bowled six overs in the nets over the weekend. I am satisfied he will be able to play a full role for England in the World Cup," Graveney added.

The biggest risk, however, is in the selection of Craig White, who tore a muscle in his side during the Melbourne Test match. Initial medical advice suggested the injury would require three to six weeks to heal and the all-rounder, who will remain in Australia, will receive intensive treatment over the coming weeks. "The aim is for Craig to be available for the finals of the VB series should England qualify," Graveney said. "We will also be looking to Flintoff and Giles to be fit for selection for those finals."

The players not included in the World Cup squad who are currently taking part in the VB series, of whom Owais Shah and James Kirtley stand out because they have been involved in the England one-day squads for over a year, will stay and be considered as replacements should they be required.

ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
N Hussain (Essex, capt)
M E Trescothick (Somerset)
N V Knight (Warwickshire)
R C Irani (Essex)
P D Collingwood (Durham)
I D Blackwell (Somerset)
A J Stewart (Surrey, wkt)
C White (Yorkshire)
A Flintoff (Lancashire)
M P Vaughan (Yorkshire)
A F Giles (Warwickshire)
A R Caddick (Somerset)
J M Anderson (Lancashire)
S J Harmison (Durham)
M J Hoggard (Yorkshire)

Coach: D A G Fletcher