England summon Blackwell to fill Flintoff gap in one-day squad

Looking for a similar style of cricketer to replace Andrew Flintoff in September's ICC Champions Trophy, the England selectors yesterday announced that Ian Blackwell will be the man who has the task of filling the boots of the Lancashire all-rounder.

As a left-handed batsmen and left-arm spinner Blackwell is not quite a like for like substitute for Flintoff but he is in many ways the closest thing English cricket has. Built from similar stock, the Somerset all-rounder gives the ball a fearful whack when he bats and it will be this side of his game that will have appealed to the selectors most, especially considering the low, flat surfaces they are likely to encounter in Sri Lanka.

His slow bowling cannot be relied upon like Flintoff's fast bowling, but the 24-year-old is a cricketer whose clean hitting has excited many since he moved to Taunton from Derbyshire three years ago. Today at Lord's, in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy final, he has the ideal stage to show just what he is capable of.

The consequences of Flintoff's injury, a double hernia which was operated on yesterday, have hit England hard even before September's tournament and despite this it is with positive intent that Nasser Hussain and colleagues should select their squad for Thursday's crucial fourth Test against India at The Oval.

Being cautious seldom succeeds, especially against a side that are full of confidence, following their comprehensive victory over England at Headingley, but remaining up-beat is easier said than done when your squad has consistently been robbed of its leading players throughout the summer.

The challenge for the selectors is picking a balanced side when all the all-rounders that could replace Flintoff are unfit. Craig White can only bat, Ronnie Irani has just had an operation and others like Rikki Clarke from Surrey and Robin Martin-Jenkins from Sussex are a bit raw. Because of this the squad is likely to cover all possible plans: seven batsmen, two spinners and four seamers.

Most eyes will be on Lord's today to see if Marcus Trescothick has fully recovered from his broken thumb. If he is, he will play at The Oval, which will help Hussain's selection and encourage him to play five bowlers. If he isn't, there will be plenty more debate before Thursday. Today's final will also give the selectors the chance to have a good look at the Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson. And it is these two who are the reason England have delayed naming their squad from today until tomorrow morning.

Following England's winter tour of India, where Dawson impressed many with not only the way he bowled but his competitive nature, he has had a mixed summer. Playing on the early season seamer-friendly pitches of Headingley will not have helped the development of the 21-year-old and it is only in the last couple of games that he has found form.

In Yorkshire's last two Championship games against Lancashire and Hampshire he has taken five-wicket hauls and it is no coincidence that these have been the only two first-class games they have won this season. As a batsman he is also capable of making decent contributions.

The final combination of bowlers will depend on the pitch they find at The Oval. Historically it is a place where two spinners are required and this attack would only allow England to play six batsmen, as three fast bowlers is a must. If England do not play two spinners there is the option of playing seven batsmen but, entering a match in which they need 20 wickets to win, this does not appear a strategy likely to bring success.

Following a hard-fought victory at Lord's in the first Test against India, Hussain stated that he was looking forward to playing on a typically English green seamer. However, after two Test matches on such surfaces, where his quick bowlers have been generally disappointing, the England captain would not know what to select now even if the groundsman gave him the choice.

PROBABLE ENGLAND SQUAD (Final Test v India, The Oval, Thursday): N Hussain (capt), M E Trescothick, M P Vaughan, M A Butcher, J P Crawley, A J Stewart (wkt), R W T Key, A J Tudor, A F Giles, R K J Dawson, A R Caddick, M J Hoggard, S J Harmison.