After playing in every Test in the West Indies and taking 19 wickets despite bowling far too many no-balls, Headley was left out of the twelve at Edgbaston to make room for Dominic Cork, who justified the decision with figures of five for 93 and a patient first innings of 36. Gough's broken finger is expected to be sufficiently cured by the time the third Test starts at Old Trafford on July 2.
Although he toured the West Indies as replacement for Gough - in that instance because of a tendon injury behind the knee - Silverwood's last appearance in a major match for England happens to have been at Lord's last season against Australia in the third of the one-day internationals.
It is not a game he remembers with much pleasure - none for 44 from six overs - and despite the timely five for 13 against Hampshire last Friday which enabled him to retain his place ahead of Giddins in the pecking order, he remains a promising but inconsistent bowler. He is only 23, so that is not surprising.
The selectors' preference for Silverwood over Giddins had nothing whatsoever to do with the latter's action. David Graveney said yesterday that it was not even mentioned and added: ``We believe Ed's action is as legitimate as Angus Fraser's.''
The chairman said that Silverwood had made a complete recovery from the shin soreness which kept him out of consideration for the Edgbaston Test and that his figures against Hampshire proved him to be ``in prime form''. It remains questionable, however, whether he will gain anything from returning to the England nets he has frequented over the last two tours with only one Test cap to show for it.
Giddins or Durham's Mel Betts, the leading wicket-taker, would have gained valuable knowledge of the England approach for the experience but the paramount question was which bowler would be most likely to come into the eleven at the last moment and do well should anything happen to Fraser, Cork or Headley in practice this week. My answer would have been Giddins - and Gloucestershire's batsmen would not disagree after his 11-wicket haul against them at Bristol last week.
The selectors can hardly take such things into consideration but their choice could have a significant bearing on the outcome of this year's County Championship. Silverwood's selection means that neither he nor Gough will be able to play for Yorkshire against Durham on Wednesday. Yorkshire have a playing staff of only 17 and their chief all-rounder, Craig White, is also injured. But Betts will be able to play for Durham, who are starting to have title aspirations, and Giddins for Warwickshire against his old county, Sussex, who were second in the table at the start of the current round of matches.
ENGLAND 12 (for 2nd Test v S Africa, Lord's, Thursday):
M A Atherton, M A Butcher, N Hussain, *+A J Stewart, G P Thorpe, M R Ramprakash, M A Ealham, D G Cork, R D B Croft, D W Headley, A R C Fraser, C E W Silverwood.