England turn to Afzaal to fill the breach

Injuries to key players is one of the cruellest fates in sport, and England have seen virtually two years of forward momentum and fine tuning upset on the eve of their opening Test against Australia. The Ashes was always the big one England had been planning for, but any subsequent progress after tomorrow will have to be done without three first choice players.

For David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, the worst case scenario which was feared last week, has come to pass. Graham Thorpe was always doubtful with a calf injury as was Ashley Giles with tonsillitis. But the withdrawal of Thorpe's replacement, Mark Ramprakash, with a hamstring injury, and Michael Vaughan yesterday, who will now undergo surgery to have his torn knee cartilage trimmed, were not so predictable.

The Australian way of looking at it would be to point out that one man's misfortune is another's opportunity – and believe it.

Usman Afzaal, Nottinghamshire's 23-year old left-hander and a fresh face, will certainly see it that way. Mark Butcher, Surrey's 30-year old left-hander and an experienced head, has seen it all before, which is why he will bat at three. Hopefully their assimilation will help England compete favourably against an Australian side whose appetite for pom-baiting is in such good fettle they even named their final XI 72 hours before they needed to.

A devout muslim, Afzaal's selection, in front of Owais Shah is a brave one by the selectors. During the one-dayers Shah passed an early aptitude test, but looked increasingly uneasy against the Aussies by the end. Nevertheless it would have been easy to pick him, and no-one would have griped.

Although Afzaal is one of the youngsters identified by England's selectors, by going for him they have made a judgement much in the way they did with Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan. Unlike that pair, this is not one that goes entirely against statistics, of which the most vital probably came against Worcestershire last season.

The Championship match in question took place at Trent Bridge. Glenn McGrath, relishing English conditions, snapped up 8-86 in the first innings, though Afzaal was not among them, the left-hander finishing unbeaten on 151. Australia's opening bowler, never one for a good word until the sledging is well and truly done, was even said to be impressed.

His recent form has been good too and according to those close to him, the Rawalpindi-born Afzaal, does not lack for confidence. But lording it over county sides with one or two decent bowlers in them, will not come as easily against a bowling attack that Dennis Lillee rates as the best Australia has ever put out.

There are other qualities that may help him settle and yesterday Graveney spoke of Afzaal's instinct for a scrap. "Everyone I've spoken to among the players, umpires and coaches says he is a streetfighter," said the chairman of selectors.

Afzaal, himself, admitted he had worked too hard at this game to not give it his best shot. "I never back away from bullies and look them straight in the eye," he said after nets yesterday. "If I get sledged, I will just keep quiet and focus on the job in hand."

Like his captain, Nasser Hussain, Afzaal first arrived to live in England as a pre-teenager. But while the young Hussain prevaricated about his allegiances to begin with, Afzaal was adamant that his, despite offers to play first-class cricket in Pakistan, lay with England.

"This country has given me everything," said Afzaal. "I am passionate about England and I want to play Test cricket for them. It is not my place to say who people should support. People should make there own minds up but I can see where Nasser's coming from."

Criticised in the past for being sloppy-minded, Afzaal has become more focussed under Clive Rice, Nottinghamshire's no-nonsense team manager. Mainly a defensive player when he started, Rice has made him seek run-scoring options earlier in his innings. At No 7, he may need both, depending on the situation England find themselves in.

"Clive is the reason I'm here. He taught me about hunger and pushed me in the right direction. Clive is never pleased though, and he's constantly pushing but that's what you need to succeed at the top level."

Butcher has also been tinkering, fine tuning elements of his technique with father Alan over the close season. Although surprised at his call-up – he said he had made a shortlist of candidates and wasn't on it – the left-hander felt the fruits of his labours were coming together.

"I'm hitting the ball well and although I've not been scoring heavily, I've been happy with the way I've been compiling my innings," said Butcher. Against McGrath and Co happy may not be the word he cares to choose a few days from now.