CRICKET: Ed Joyce received a confidence boost from his England and Middlesex colleague Andrew Strauss ahead of a possible debut in the first Test starting tomorrow.
Irishman Joyce, who flew in to Australia just last Thursday as replacement for Marcus Trescothick, was on standby to appear at the Gabba because of an injury to England's number three Ian Bell.
Bell was hit on the wrist by a ball bowled by quickie James Anderson while batting in the nets. The Warwickshire batsman was rushed to hospital for X-rays which revealed heavy bruising but no fracture, leaving the decision over whether to blood Joyce hanging until the morning of the Test match.
Strauss, who stood in as England skipper last summer, described Joyce as, "one of the coolest, most laidback people I know".
He backed the Bray man despite being aware of the difficulties that Joyce would face due to his lack of match practice in Australian conditions. "He's proved for Middlesex a lot of times that under pressure is when he's at his best," he said.
"If there's any guy I know who'll be well set to make a debut, it's him. It's a big ask, but everyone knows he's a quality player. Even so, we're very hopeful that Ian's going to play."
