CRICKET/England team newsEngland hopeful Martin Bicknell is fully prepared for a déjà vu dumping after his surprise call-up for this week's fourth Test against South Africa. Injuries have led to the selectors turning to the veteran swing-and-seam bowler for this week's Headingley contest, with the five-match series level at 1-1, more than 10 years since he played the second of his two Tests to date.
He first appeared against Australia at the same ground in 1993 but was discarded before the end of that summer and has not featured in the squad for any of the 114 matches in between.
With concerns over whether paceman Steve Harmison can get through five days after straining his right calf during the 70-run victory at Trent Bridge, Bicknell's experience could get him the nod ahead of Worcestershire's Kabir Ali, the other bowler brought in as back-up.
Bicknell (34), was confirmed as a "horses-for-courses" pick by chairman of selectors David Graveney. Given that a plethora of pacemen are not fit for Test selection, including Andrew Caddick, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones, Richard Johnson and James Ormond, Bicknell is realistic about his potential role.
"There are a lot of good cricketers out there, younger and fitter than me, and I know there are a lot of injuries and that is why I have got my chance," he said. "It could just be a one-off Test and I am under no illusions at all, I am fully prepared for anything. But I would be disappointed if I had a blinding Test match and didn't play at The Oval."
