Ben Hollioake is recalled as the main all-rounder in place of Mark Ealham for what, if he survives the cut, would be his second Test cap; and Nick Knight takes over again as Mike Atherton's opening partner after 14 Tests out of the side.

Darren Gough's return means that three changes are likely to the XI beaten by 10 wickets at Lord's. Dean Headley is retained in a party of 13 and Ashley Giles, uncapped so far, is chosen as partner for Robert Croft if conditions at Old Trafford on Thursday morning encourage the inclusion of a second spinner.

The chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said after a 2 1/2-hour meeting on Saturday night that all 13 players would be kept in Manchester until final decisions are made on the morning of the match. Two from Giles, Headley and Hollioake are the likely omissions.

Knight replaces Steve James, who becomes, for the time being at least, the 10th man still playing who has appeared once and once only in a Test for England. It is as graphic an example of instability as you could wish to have, though the other side of the coin is that the choice is so wide. At least James has one more official cap than Alan Jones, Glamorgan's highest scorer.

Mark Butcher's thumb injury has not healed sufficiently and Knight's is a more logical piece of selection than the one which led to James being rushed to Lord's at the 11th hour for a baptism against Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock.

It came close to being a drowning instead.

In the circumstances he let no one down, but Knight, captain of England's A team last winter (James was his vice-captain) is familiar with South Africa's opening bowlers, having played with them both for Warwickshire; had some success against them in the one-day internationals earlier this season; has a hundred against Pakistan and what was almost a match-winning 96 against Zimbabwe in his 11 Tests to date; and, not least, is a fielder of the highest class.

This is no small matter. Graham Thorpe at first slip, Knight at second, Nasser Hussain at third and Mike Atherton in the gully gives the best available group of catchers in the area where Tests can be won or lost.

On the other hand, James looked a reliable short-leg at Lord's and it certainly wasn't a lack of fielding ability which counted against Darren Maddy who, presumably, was the other possible opener at Old Trafford. Maddy seems to have slipped rapidly from first to fourth in the selectorial ratings since the start of the season, and it will be intriguing to see if he eventually partners Atherton or succeeds him.

Gough's return was essential, despite the fact that he bowled in a match for the first time yesterday since before the first Test at Edgbaston. It was there, of course, that he sustained his broken finger, batting in the first innings. He cannot be match fit, but Graveney spoke yesterday of the public perception that he is a ``talisman'' for the England side.

Gough is certainly a buoyant spirit in the dressing-room and if he can find his rhythm quickly he will give the attack a sharper cutting edge. Gough has played in the same side as Dominic Cork and Angus Fraser in only five Tests and they have actually bowled together in only three of them.

Chris Silverwood, Ed Giddins and Alan Mullally were all considered as the fourth fast bowler but Graveney called Headley England's best bowler at Lord's ``after a disappointing start''.

Headley bowled well at Old Trafford on his first appearance for England last season, taking eight wickets, but if he plays this time it would mean no place for Hollioake, which would be a shame in view of the 20-year-old's charisma.

Hollioake is far from the finished article and his figures for Surrey this season are modest: 153 first-class runs at 19 and only 10 wickets.

A groin injury inhibited his bowling for a while and he still gets himself out too often, but he has time against the quickest bowlers and the ability to counter-attack if that is what is needed.

THE SQUAD

*+A J Stewart (Surrey)      35      77
M A Atherton (Lancs)        30      81
N Hussain (Essex)           30      31
G P Thorpe (Surrey)         28      51
M R Ramprakash (Middx)      28      25
B C Hollioake (Surrey)      20       1
D G Cork (Derbys)           26      21
R D B Croft (Glam)          28      13
D Gough (Yorks)             27      22
A R C Fraser (Middx)        32      40
D W Headley (Kent)          28      10
A F Giles (Warwicks)        25       0
N V Knight (Warwicks)       28      11