Caddick determined to put Hussain young guard in their place

During a summer when the potency and life-expectancy of England's two senior fast bowlers has been questioned, Andrew Caddick came out fighting for the cause of the older man at Headingley yesterday.

Preparing for Thursday's third Test match against India, the 33-year-old Caddick, who has been out of action with a rib injury since the middle of June, insisted that even though the young brigade of Matthew Hoggard, Alex Tudor, Simon Jones and Stephen Harmison have come in and impressed, it is still he and Darren Gough who are the linchpins of England's bowling attack.

Speaking about himself and his opening partner, who have not bowled in tandem for England since they played against Australia at The Oval a year ago, the Somerset paceman said: "I think Goughy and I are still the best around. Darren brings a huge dimension to cricket and seeing his name on the board is a huge boost to the team. England's best chance of beating Australia this winter is with Gough and I in the side."

The fact that an Ashes tour does not yet appear on his CV has been the cause of anguish to Caddick while he recovered from his injury. "I have missed two tours to Australia, one through injury and the other through selection. It is a tour I have always wanted to make and one I look forward to. The thought of missing out on another has been the main reason why I have worried about this injury," Caddick said.

Before getting on the plane on 15 October, though, Caddick has some business to attend to this week in Leeds. Headingley is a ground at which he will look forward to playing. The pitch has a history of favouring Caddick's type of bowling and was the scene of perhaps the finest moment in his career to date. On that fateful Friday afternoon in August 2000 he dismissed four West Indian batsmen in one over and finished with the remarkable figures of 5 for 14, the cheapest five-wicket haul by an England bowler since Ian Botham's 5 for 11 against Australia in 1981.

Showing a reluctance to mention that day for fear of tempting fate, Caddick preferred to talk about his absence from the England side and this week's Test. "It has been disappointing to miss so much cricket this summer, but it is the first injury I have had in the last seven years. I actually did it batting against Muttiah Muralitharan, but bowling last week for Somerset it felt pretty good and I am happy with the way I am bowling," said England's ninth bowler to pass 200 Test wickets.

"I have had a nice little rest period but am now looking forward to playing again. I know the bowlers that came in while I was injured did well but I don't feel I have anything to prove."

With a place on an Ashes tour at stake and the chance of showing everyone that he is still the top dog, the England captain, Nasser Hussain, can rest assured that he will not be able to get the ball out of Caddick's hand on Thursday morning should he get an early wicket or two.

Bat theft hurts Harmison

The England paceman Steve Harmison has had the bat he used on his Test debut stolen after his car was broken into.

The Durham bowler, debuted for England in the second Test against India, was at St James' Park to watch Newcastle beat West Ham 4-0 when the break-in occurred on Monday night.

Thieves also stole the player's whites but not his England cap. "It was staring them in the face along with my helmet, but for some reason they didn't take it," said the 24-year-old, who is in the England squad for Thursday's match at Headingley.

"It hasn't been the best preparation for Thursday's Test but there is time to get my head round, put it to one side and not let idiots hamper what's going to happen in that Test match."