For England to win a Test match with a major series still alive is a rare enough event for David Graveney and his three colleagues to leave the bonnet shut and drive on. On the other hand the coach, David Lloyd, who will have been consulted but who does not sit down with Graveney, Graham Gooch, Mike Gatting and Alec Stewart for formal meetings, said earlier this week that he was not averse to changes for Leeds. ``It is a hard, uncompromising game,'' he said ``and you need hard, uncompromising players.''
If this might have sounded like an oblique reference to a fatal lack of confidence on the part of England's only spinner at Trent Bridge, he was quick to add that he hoped Ian Salisbury would be chosen again. ``It's hard to believe, but he didn't have a problem with confidence; he was fine,'' was Lloyd's verdict on the leg-spinner's bruising encounter with Hansie Cronje. It is a safe bet that he will remain in the party of 13 which will be chosen via a telephone link-up between the four selectors this evening.
Whether Salisbury ultimately plays will depend on the amount of grass left on the Test pitch on Thursday morning and, no doubt, the weather forecast. But with Mark Ramprakash (assuming his fitness) and Graeme Hick capable of respectable off-spin, Robert Croft's name will be missing this time. Manchester's batting hero badly needs a turning pitch and a haul of wickets at Chelmsford next week to press his case.
Tonight's discussions will start, perhaps, with the question of Ramprakash's current indisposition. It is a recurrence of the tonsillitis from which he had not fully recoverd when he made his valuable 67 not out at Nottingham. He was obliged to miss Middlesex's game against the Sri Lankans which started yesterday but anti-biotics are expected to clear the infection. If not, John Crawley, Robin Smith, Mal Loye and Alistair Brown are the only serious alternatives and for a match like this, Crawley's experience and current form would undoubtedly make him the right choice.
For similar reasons there is no doubt that Alan Mullally will be chosen again. This time, too, he is likely to play, with Ed Giddins, in the running all season, finally getting into an England squad at the age of 27. If nothing else, his presence would keep Darren Gough and Dominic Cork on their toes.
Yorkshire have decided to ban spectators from bringing alcohol into part of Headingley for the Test. Consultation with the police and other ground safety agencies have led officials to prevent Western Terrace ticket holders carrying in their own drink for the match, although the existing ``four-can rule'' will apply to fans in other areas of the ground.
A Yorkshire spokesman said: ``We remain committed to the principle of providing a comfortable and safe environment for the average spectator to enjoy international cricket at Headingley without being subject to the anti-social behaviour of the mindless minority.
``These new measures are introduced as a major benefit to the well-being of the vast number of genuine cricket supporters. Similar measures are being taken at other provincial Test match venues.''
Chief Inspector Ray Shepherd, of Weetwood police, added: ``A lot of time and money is spent on the event and we will not allow a handful of ill-behaved idiots to spoil it for everyone else. If they are not in the Headingley ground to enjoy cricket then we will try and make sure they don't get in at all.''
Six players have been nominated for the prestigious Cricket Writers' Club Young Player of the Year award. Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who made his Test debut aged 20 in the Trent Bridge triumph over South Africa, is joined on the shortlist by Nottinghamshire's Paul Franks, Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison, Paul Hutchison of Yorkshire, Middlesex batsman Owais Shah and highly-rated Surrey paceman Alex Tudor.
To qualify for the award, won last year by Ben Hollioake, candidates must be under 23 on May 1. The winner will be announced at the Cricket Writers' Club's annual dinner on Sept 4 in London.
MORE than £2.5 million, an increase of £250,000, will be spent on cricket development at grass roots level over the next 12 months.
The Cricket Foundation, the charitable body through which the England and Wales Cricket Board funds development, will distribute the money through the 38 County Boards.
Most of the funds will go towards the work of the 65 development officers in the counties, helping them to encourage cricket in schools and junior sections.
Ossie Wheatley, chairman of the Cricket Foundation, said: ``More than two million people play cricket at present and demand for junior sections in clubs is already outstripping supply. This increase will help widen participation still further.''