Yesterday, for the first time in 33 Tests since Barbados and Antigua in April, 1994, Michael Atherton announced the same XI for the second consecutive match. In that time - less than three years which have included nine different series beginning with New Zealand at home and finishing with New Zealand away - 41 players have been chosen for England. Ridiculous, or so we thought until Robin Smith ar- rived in Christchurch for a holiday and counted the 66 players with whom he wore the three lions in the years between his first appearance at Headingley, in 1988, and his most recent in Cape Town, in Jan- uary, 1996.

Perhaps it is not surprising that England cricketers are a bit insular, a bit jumpy, for the poor souls live in fear of having their throats cut or, then again, you could say that the same souls should win more often, save their throats and squash the selectors' indecision.

Interestingly, considering this fast turnover and assuming that England do not lose here in Christchurch, as many as three of those nine series have been won, while three have been drawn and three lost. And, as David Lloyd will doubtless tell you, were it not for one ball in Bulawayo, the scoreboard would read 4-2-3, which is a rather better record than you might have lost your money on had you been asked for an answer in an instant. Would you have remembered the three wicketkeepers? Alec Stewart, Jack Russell and Stephen Rhodes, yes, probably. The four seam-bowling all-rounders? Chris Lewis, Craig White, Ronnie Irani and Mark Ealham - of course. The eight spinners? Mmm, good luck - answers below.

The 12 batsmen? Well, five are on this tour along with Stewart. There is Smith, of course, and his soul-mate Graeme Hick, then there are the old timers Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting. Then there is one- ball Wells, Alan of Sussex, whose selection was a legitimate claim to a cock-up if ever there was one - fancy giving an outstanding county cricketer one game at the end of a five-Test summer to justify his life's devotion. And then the young ones, Mark Ramprakash and Jason Gallian, who have batted for England like startled rabbits.

Worst of all is the selection of 14, yes 14, seam bowlers to go with those four all-rounders. That is 18 seamers and eight spin- ners: 26 cricketers chosen to bowl for England in less than three years. Unbelievable.

Or is it? Are the selectors hamstrung by so many players of the same standard and no great players to speak of?

Apart from Atherton, there has been no thread to England's selection. One day there was Mark Illott as left-arm flavour of the mo- ment, then another Paul Taylor. A year or two on and Alan Mullally and Simon Brown were head to head for their future in the same match.

Angus Fraser and Devon Malcolm were new-ball bowlers who appeared to complement each other - indeed, England's record when Fraser has been in the side is markedly better than when he has not - and af- ter Fraser came Peter Martin, the heir apparent, or so it seemed after the tour to South Africa, but where is Martin now?

At least the three who bowled yesterday seemed to have something about them, and they blend nicely even if their reluctance to pitch the ball further up goes against the grain. Their young reserve Chris Silverwood has suggested enough of the right stuff to become a Geoff Arnold-type bowler.

All of which leaves Phillip DeFreitas, leaves him to the memory, in fact, of his batting in Adelaide in January, 1995 when England last won abroad before last week.

The other two? Martin McCague and Joey Benjamin, the first who went on that tour to Australia and flew home injured and the second who also went to Australia and might just as well have flown home after the first Test so insignificant was his contribution.

The alternatives available are endless. Numerous cricketers of similar ability are emerging from our tired structure and craving the attention of constantly changing selectors. The ECB have ap- pointed an England management committee whose job incorporates selecting the selectors. Nice touch, six or seven men choosing four or five men who have the potential to choose 41 in three years.

So it goes on, committee upon committee, sub committee upon sub committee, meetings until you drop. It is time for continuity, time to give everyone a chance, leaders and subjects alike.

Answer to spinners question above: Phil Tufnell, Robert Croft, Ian Salisbury, Min Patel, Richard Illingworth, Mike Watkinson, John Emburey, Peter Such.