da marjack bet： Richard Johnson, the uncapped Somerset fast bowler, is the one newname in England’s squad of 12 for the second npower Test againstZimbabwe, which starts at Chester-le-Street on Thursday (June 5)
Steven Lynch31-May-2003
Back in the fold: Richard Johnson
Richard Johnson, the uncapped Somerset fast bowler, is the one newname in England’s squad of 12 for the second npower Test againstZimbabwe, which starts at Chester-le-Street on Thursday (June 5).Johnson replaces Matthew Hoggard from the side that won the firstTest, at Lord’s, by an innings inside three days. Hoggard injured hisknee earlier this week playing for Yorkshire in the C&G Trophy. JamesKirtley, 12th man at Lord’s, retains his place in the squad, and the lastplace in the starting XI probably lies between those two. Johnson mightjust edge it by virtue of his better batting credentials – earlier thisyear he smote his maiden first-class century.Johnson, who’s now 28, has been close to England selection before: after a good 1995 season with his then-county Middlesex, he was chosen for the winter tour of South Africa, but had to pull out with back trouble. He was also called up fortwo Tests of the 2001 Ashes series, but missed out when the teamwas named, and toured India in 2001-02 without making the Test side.David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors, said: “RichardJohnson has been in our plans for a while and has been selected nowthat he is fully fit again after suffering from a groin strain earlier inthe season. He is in good form and is a bowler who is capable of 90mphpace and making the ball swing.”The only other absentee from the squad called up for Lord’s is AndyFlintoff, who is still unable to bowl after injuring his shoulder. But heshowed yesterday that he can still bat, hammering a rapid 154 forLancashire against Kent at Canterbury.Graveney explained: “Andrew Flintoff is back playing for Lancashire asa batsman and we will continue to monitor his fitness. But we did notconsider him for this Test match as we feel that he is not yet ready forthe rigours of a five-day game.”Flintoff’s replacement, Anthony McGrath, is set to retain his place after apromising debut at Lord’s – he scored 69 and took three wickets -even though he picked up a side injury that will restrict his bowling.Either Johnson or Kirtley will be winning his first cap, but the focus onThursday will be on another Test debutant. The Riverside ground atChester-le-Street in Durham will be England’s first new Test venue for101 years – since Sheffield’s Bramall Lane in 1902. England lost thatgame to Australia and never played in Sheffield again, but theRiverside, with its clean stands and room to breathe, should have amuch rosier future.England Squad Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire),Mark Butcher (Surrey), Nasser Hussain (capt, Essex), Robert Key (Kent), Alec Stewart (wkt, Surrey), Anthony McGrath (Yorkshire), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire),Richard Johnson (Somerset), Stephen Harmison (Durham), James Anderson (Lancashire), James Kirtley (Sussex).