Cricket: Gower awaits verdict on Old Trafford six: Glenn Moore on the chances of common sense prevailing during the England cricket selectors' deliberations

GIVEN the propensity of the selectors to opt for wrinkled familiarity rather than cherubic youth in times of crisis it is fortunate that they picked the team for the second Test last night and not this evening. Otherwise, with two of the selectors, Keith Fletcher and Dennis Amiss, due to appear at Trent Bridge today in a reconstruction of the Centenary Test for Derek Randall's benefit, a good spell from the likes of Derek Underwood or a vintage innings from Randall himself and there could have been a few creaking limbs hunting around in the loft tomorrow for that old England sweater and cap.

That said, there will be considerable approval for once if the team, to be announced this morning, includes an extra curly grey hair or two, with David Gower the hottest 'people's choice' since Chris Waddle was ignored by Graham Taylor. A salutary glance across the Atlantic might remind Ted Dexter and company of the dangers of continually perverse selection, especially since Gower, unlike Waddle, has taken the opportunity to give the selectors a metaphorical nudge in the ribs with a well-timed return to form.

However, his own ribs were nudged in the field and the subsequent enforced absence from Hampshire's present match does give hope to the other cack-handers in the queue to combat Shane Warne - Graham Thorpe and Neil Fairbrother, both of whom made runs in the week.

Although Fairbrother showed signs on tour of transferring his one-day confidence to the Test arena, Thursday's 63 was his first half-century in 11 first-class innings this season and Thorpe's promise should take precedence if Gower is ruled out through injury or bloody- mindedness. The former is unlikely, the latter all too possible with the whisper this week being that the Old Trafford six are still regarded as the country's best - a tenet being eroded as quickly as the belief that no innocent ever suffers from British justice.

If common sense does get the chance to reign, Mike Gatting is the probable fall guy with Warne and Merv Hughes getting another chance at Robin Smith and Graeme Hick. The other man at risk is Michael Atherton, especially with Mark Lathwell ravaging Essex last weekend and Hugh Morris, another left-hander, having a good season. But even though Atherton's scores in the first Test were poor his contribution was valuable.

Opening partnerships of 73 and 71 at Old Trafford represented England's first half-century first-wicket stands for 11 innings dating back to Atherton and Gooch at Headingley last year. Indeed, so unused is the England No 3 to having such a prolonged wait, Smith was literally caught with his trousers down when Atherton was first dislodged, so donating to Gatting the 'ball of doom'.

The third captaincy candidate, Alec Stewart, is also in need of runs but is likely to keep his dual role. One historic aspect of today's entertainment at Trent Bridge involves a rare sighting of a specialist England wicketkeeper, and if Fletcher or Amiss move sharply from fielding at slip to the far boundary you can be sure Bob Taylor had been discussing Jack Russell's quicksilver glovework and obdurate batting.

The performance of Peter Such and spirit of Andy Caddick underlined the value of introducing new players and the third, Mark Ilott, may well play this time. With Martin McCague, Alan Igg

lesden, Dominic Cork, Phil Newport and David Millns unfit, the pace options are reduced, but even though Chris Lewis is set to get one last 'last chance' to display his talents, at least one place is available, Phillip DeFreitas having blown his opportunity.

It will not go to a completely new face - virtually everyone who can shine a ball has been involved in the set-up at some stage - but it should go to a bowler in form. Those include Devon Malcolm, Steve Watkin, Neil Foster and Martin Bicknell, with Foster the preferred choice. But although his lumberjack display this week shows his fire and enthusiasm remain undiminished, will his knees last five days? It was at Lord's last year that England were reduced to three fit bowlers, costing them the match and possibly the series.

The other main topic last night will have been Phil Tufnell. What is to be done about cricket's Gazza? Talent in abundance, but only when the mood suits is there a performance to match. Outbowled by Such at Old Trafford, he is already demoted to second spinner, but local knowledge and the lack of an overwhelming challenge from the likes of Richard Davis and Andy Afford should keep him in the squad.

For Australia the two questions are: have the Waugh twins done enough again to deny Damien Martyn a sixth cap? And will they bring in the off-spinner Tim May or retain the left-arm swing bowler Brendon Julian after his promising debut? That will depend on the pitch, which will itself reflect the week's weather. So far spinners have claimed 52 of the 125 Championship wickets to fall there but that is partly because of Middlesex's reliance on Tufnell and John Emburey.

Although one down in the series, England go into this Test in marginally better shape than the last. Two new bowlers have been discovered and the captain has both regained his Test form and been confirmed for the series. This may be good for his personal confidence but it will benefit the team only if he can find the inspiration and imagination to transform his team from honest toilers to intelligent competitors. Unless they can match the wit (mental not verbal) and energy of players like Hughes, England will go two down whoever is picked.

POSSIBLE ENGLAND XII: Gooch (capt), Atherton, Smith, Gower, Hick, Stewart, Lewis, Caddick, Such, Ilott, Malcolm, Tufnell.