England selectors cloud murky one-day picture

England gave the impression last week that they can at last see the one-day light, but the next month may merely confirm that they are still whistling in the dark. The squad selected for the NatWest Series which begins in Nottingham on Thursday conveys mixed signals.

None of them suggest that success in the World Cup next spring is remotely attainable. Their players include a talismanic but half-fit fast bowler in Darren Gough; another seamer, James Kirtley, who has recently been cleared of the allegation that he throws; yet another, Alex Tudor, who has never played a one-day international; an all-rounder, Ronnie Irani, who last played one five years ago and in 10 games had a batting average of 10; and their returning 38-year-old wicketkeeper, Alec Stewart.

England's abject failure in the last tournament in this country three years ago may not be repeated, but their limited-overs policy remains confused. Despite their un- doubted, if, as it were, limited progress in three separate series last winter – which started with a win, continued with a draw and ended with a loss – they cannot dispel the notion that they have yet to grasp fully the nature and the demands of the shorter game.

On their own grounds in a wet summer they should be able to match India and Sri Lanka in this triangular tournament. But that is by no means certain given the galaxy of batting talent that exists in both opposition teams.

England can bat, too, though not as far down the order as they might like, and their bowling will greatly miss Andrew Caddick (with whom they wrongly dispensed for too much of the winter) while possibly carrying Gough.

The Yorkshireman has been written off too many times before to make doing it again a worthwhile exercise. But while he looks tanned at present and expresses himself raring to after his recent knee surgery, he also looks patently overweight.

It was up to the chairman of selectors, David Graveney, to explain the panel's thought processes. "We felt we made some important strides in one-day international cricket last winter but we are definitely reaching the conclusion that the best players should be playing in both forms of international cricket." So, three years after going out at the first stage of their own World Cup, the English have reinvented the wheel.

And what does Graveney's statement say about Nick Knight, one of the world's best one-day batsmen? And what of Paul Collingwood and Jeremy Snape, who cannot surely be in the Test frame but in finding a one-day niche have also helped to make the side's fielding credible again? And of Kirtley, who has his action back after being reported in Zimbabwe last winter but who is not surely a serious contender for "both forms of international cricket"?

Graveney said of the Sussex bowler: "He's aware of the environment that he's coming into as an international cricketer and he's done a lot of remedial work on his action with Bob Cottam. As far as the selectors are concerned he has been cleared to play by the ECB's bowling review group, has performed superbly this season for Sussex and that's the end of the matter."

It is to be hoped that Graveney is correct in his estimation. Kirtley was in optimistic mood as the England players gathered in Cardiff yesterday. He said he had worked hard on the efficiency of his action. "I have tidied up my action by making it more chest-on, have shortened my run-up and my bowling arm is a lot closer to my body than it used to be." Asked if he thought he ever a thrown a ball, Kirtley said emphatically: "No". For his sake and that of the selectors' credibility, that state of play must prevail.

Graveney said Irani had been included because he was in the form of his life and the selectors had always told players that if they performed they would be looked at. Of course, it is utterly contradictory that Snape has no form at all and is not in the Gloucestershire one-day side at present. Graveney said he had done well in the winter.

But this has not stopped them jettisoning Craig White, an eminently more talented cricketer than most in the squad. He is not bowling well for Yorkshire, it is true, though his batting is intact. He is also almost certainly a better bowler than Irani, Snape and Collingwood.

It may as well be stated now that the status of the entire game here depends on a decent showing in the World Cup in South Africa. Arguably, the quality of England's performance there will have more bearing than that in the contest for the Ashes which precedes it. One may be the oldest cricketing battle, the other has more appeal to a wider, younger audience. First, this summer. England to win. Or else calamity.