Date-stamped : 06 Aug96 - 18:31 5 August 1996 Injured Mark Ealham out of 2nd test LONDON, Sunday (AFP) - England all-rounder Mark Ealham finally succumbed on Saturday to the rib muscle injury he suffered in the first Test against Pakistan and ruled himself out of the second Test, which begins on Thursday at Leeds. He bowled only three overs during Kent`s County Championship match against Worcestershire at Canterbury on Friday before re- tiring for treatment. The England selectors, who are meeting over the weekend, were al- ready considering dropping Ealham to allow six specialist batsmen to combat the formidable threat of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis on Headingley`s traditional seaming wicket. Nasser Hussain, forced to withdraw from the Lord`s match after failing to shrug off a broken finger, has proved his fitness and is favourite to replace Graeme Hick after the Worcestershire batsman contributed just eight runs in two innings in the first Test. Lancashire`s John Crawley and Mark Butcher of Surrey are con- sidered the other candidates to come in while Chris Lewis, anoth- er Lord`s absentee after he failed to recover from a thigh strain, will also come back into contention. Ian Salisbury is sure to be retained after a solid display at Lord`s but England`s twin left-arm attack of Simon Brown and Alan Mullally looks likely to be broken up as Darren Gough and Andy Caddick have forced their way back into contention. Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Contributed by Ravi (sista@*.latech.edu)