Hussain is poised to unleash Tudor effect

The England captain Nasser Hussain yesterday gave the strongest of hints that Alex Tudor, the Surrey fast bowler, will be named in his final XI for tomorrow's second Test against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.

Hussain is a big fan of Tudor, describing him as "potentially one of the best cricketers in England at the moment, in all forms of the game. He is a natural athlete, which we lack in England. He's an athletic cricketer and he does all three disciplines [bowling, batting, fielding] very well."

Hussain is not alone in having no doubts about Tudor's natural talent. He has an ability to make the game at times look easy, whether it be with bat or ball. As a bowler he generates good pace from a good, high action, but it is the steep bounce he can get out of a flat surface that causes batsmen the greatest problems. With the bat he has shots all round the wicket. Over-confidence in this part of his game is the major cause of his problems.

However, there can be little question that any 24-year-old capable of taking five-wicket hauls against a side as good as Australia, or playing a match-winning innings – such as the one he played at this ground against New Zealand in 1999, where he scored 99 not out – has a big future in the game.

Since then, though, Tudor's biggest challenge has been convincing himself and the selectors that he is fit enough to get through a match, let alone a whole series. Overlooked this winter because of such doubts, he was sent to the National Cricket Academy in Adelaide to toughen up. Here he was able to put in the time and effort required to strengthen himself up and overcome these problems.

The winter on the sidelines seems to have been effective. He has been an ever present for Surrey in their Championship cricket this season and has taken 19 wickets in the four games they have played. Hussain and England will be hoping he can repeat such form over the next six days.

For Sri Lanka there were also encouraging signs yesterday, as Muttiah Muralitharan was seen bowling in the nets. With limited movement in the left shoulder he recently dislocated, watching him in the field or with a bat in his hand could be entertaining – but this could be a risk the tourists are prepared to take.

News of Muralitharan, however, did not seem to bother Hussain, who felt the world's No 1 ranked player should be treated just like any other player in their side they have done their homework on. Hussain applauded both the coach, Duncan Fletcher, and the players for the way they handled him in Sri Lanka 14 months ago but accepted that things would be different here.

England's batsmen have not faced a great deal of spin yet this season, but Hussain felt that, if his batsmen make themselves mentally right to face this type and quality of bowler, there is no reason why they could not play him equally as well.