Cricket: Hussain fit to fight for the future

Series decider: Captain backs new England's attempt to avoid a defeat that would make them the world's worst Test side

IN AN age when image is everything, it is sobering to realise that England's future begins with a battle against New Zealand for bottom place. Fortunately The Oval tends to be a ground where England win, or at least they did until Sri Lanka, another team underestimated by the home side, beat them there last year.

A good performance, as well as a good result, is imperative for Nasser Hussain and his team. English cricket has been under critical siege from all sides these past two weeks and events ranging from poor selection to alleged dressing-room disquiet have caused heads to roll. From those that remain intact, however, the cry has been bold and unanimous - `Blood youth and be damned'.

And yet, for all the fighting soundbites, the echo has not rung entirely true. The last Test is often a time for change - only Alec Stewart and Mark Ramprakash survive from the team that played Sri Lanka here last year - but on this occasion England have tinkered, insisting that from now on all selections will be made with the future in mind.

If that is the case why is Stewart set to see out his career as a wicketkeeper-batsman? Collectively, the eye may be on the ball, but these are still confusing times for English cricket, and although victory over New Zealand will still give them the series, defeat will thrust England to bottom place in Wisden's unofficial Test rankings.

For what it is worth, Stewart should have begun the series in his dual role. The selectors, perhaps sensing despondency following his messy sacking as captain, clearly wanted to make it up to him. They also underestimated the fight in the New Zealanders, a mistake far more damning than the selection of Graeme Hick, by which many feel they eventually cooked their gooses.

As one of England's senior players, Stewart will have been implicated, if only by association, as the reason newcomers to the England dressing- room feel unwelcome. The assertion, made most recently by David Lloyd, the previous coach, is pretty destabilising. With the series poised at 1-1, you can understand the England captain's curt tone when responding to a media keen on scandal.

"There is no validity to the claims," said Hussain at Lord's. "I've spoken to the two lads [Aftab Habib and Chris Read] and they say they were not traumatised as `Bumble' [Lloyd] claimed.

"We believe we've selected the best side to beat New Zealand," Hussain added, after rain had forced both sides to head indoors at HQ. With catering having taken over Surrey's indoor school for the duration of the Test, any meaningful practice had to be conducted elsewhere.

"We picked players with good form and good character. The new lads will be backed. They have a lot of ability and a lot of fight. They also have the opportunity to play for England, but it is up to the individual to perform. No one gets a job for life but I would envisage at least 90 per cent, if not 100 per cent of this side going to South Africa this winter."

Hussain, who has missed almost four weeks of cricket since breaking a finger during the second Test, claims he is fit. "The break has allowed me to clear the mind and I feel fairly refreshed. I may not field in the slips, but I've been netting well and feel in good nick with the bat.

"I know it is not ideal to go into a Test match without spending time in the middle, but I decided that playing against New Zealand in a Test match was more important than playing against them for Essex. If another knock there had kept me out, I'd have been gutted."

With the top six, including new cap Darren Maddy, picking themselves, and both Andy Caddick and Phil Tufnell certainties, Hussain will have to decide which three from five are best suited to pitch and weather; apparently flat and poor respectively.

A poor forecast would certainly favour Ronnie Irani over Graeme Swann, if only for the help it may give his seamers. It would also prevent the dressing-room attendant having to wonder what the straw-coloured liquid in the bucket by the door is. Swann's habit of dipping his spinning finger in urine may sound like something out of Wurzel's Weekly, but if it helps toughen his spinning finger it should not be held against him.

That leaves two seamers, which probably means Alan Mullally and Chris Silverwood, rather than Ed Giddins, though the recent car accident suffered by Silverwood's wife has placed some doubt over whether the Yorkshireman should play. As Hussain put it: "Sometimes there are more important things in life to be sorted out. Chris is a strong Yorkie lad who wants to play for England, but a serious accident outweighs all that."

New Zealand have their own problems with injury worries to both Chris Cairns and Geoff Allott, and only Cairns stands any chance of making the line-up. The innings defeat against Essex may also have dented morale, slowing the momentum they have had since their win at Lord's.

England tend to play well at The Oval and will probably begin the match as favourites. Yet as Hussain is at pains to point out, the sides are evenly matched and anyone who believes differently is deluding themselves. He is right, but unless his team rally behind him they may be taking their medicine from a wooden spoon.