Fourth Ashes Test At Headingley Preview
August 6, 2009 by Alex Homer
All eyes are on Andrew Flintoff as England wait until Friday to decide whether he is fit to play in the fourth Test.
Flintoff will train today before his knee injury is assessed on the morning of the Test.
National selector Geoff Miller insists Flintoff will be fit enough to play, despite struggling after scoring 74 in the second innings at Edgbaston.
Jonathan Trott has been called up as batting cover for Freddie, while Ryan Sidebottom is recalled at the expense of Monty Panesar in the bowling department.
South African-born Trott comes into the 14-man squad in the best form of his career at Warwickshire, averaging 99.75 in the LV County Championship, and the first man to top 500 runs in a Twenty20 season.
While Sidebottom is also hitting his straps, taking a five wicket haul in his last four-day appearance for Nottinghamshire against Somerset at Taunton.
If Super Fred’s fitness is still doubtful, all signs are that Trott would debut to shore up the middle order with Steve Harmison or Sidebottom coming in to strengthen the bowling.
Stuart Broad would be the most likely to miss out, having taken just 6 wickets at 57.50 in the series so far. The baby-faced seamer is under pressure to fire with the ball.
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said: “This is the case of having every option covered for one of the most unpredictable grounds in the world, let alone this series.”
Australia have injury concerns of their own with Michael Clarke suffering from an abdominal strain sustained during his game-saving century at Edgbaston.
Vice Captain Clarke sat out training on Wednesday but the seriousness of his injury has been played down ahead of Headingley.
Brett Lee is once again firing on all cylinders after injury in Australia’s tour match against the England Lions at Worcester.
Despite Lee bowling at full pace in training for the past eight days, all-rounder Shane Watson has played down his chances, saying he needs a game under his belt before coming back into contention.
Watson’s place as opening batsman seems assured after fifties in both innings at Edgbaston but his bowling failed to strengthen a struggling attack in Birmingham.
The Australian tour selection panel of Merv Hughes, Jamie Cox and Captain Ricky Ponting should make more changes to reinforce their seamers.
Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle are both struggling for form, having taken just 10 wickets each at 42.30 and 40.10 respectively.
But Johnson’s improved aggression and signs of in-swing to the right hander, allied with his prowess with blade in hand should see his place secure.
With Headingley traditional assisting seam bowlers, Australian off spinner Nathan Hauritz could miss out for seamer Stuart Clark; despite gleaning 10 wickets at 32.10 in the series.
Brad Haddin could return for Graham Manou as wicketkeeper, dependent on whether his broken finger has healed sufficiently to play.
Baring Flintoff’s heroics at Lords, neither side has looked capable of taking 20 wickets in the match during this series.
With Headingley a fond stomping ground for seamers, offering both swing and lateral movement off the seam, quality bowling will decide who wins in Yorkshire.
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