David Graveney, the England chairman of selectors, has revealed that England are likely to rely on seam bowling in this summer's Tests.

Talking to Sky Sports Graveney confirmed that the pitches for the Tests this summer are likely to suit seam bowling far more than spin, and suggested that England may opt to go into the games without a front-line spinner - as they did against the West Indies last year.

Ashley Giles Photo © CricInfo

"Although we came in for a lot of criticism last summer for playing what people perceived to be an unbalanced side in seven batsman and four seamers, on the majority of my travels I have found that most of the wickets are favourable to seam," he said.

Spin played a vital role in England's successful winter, with the subcontinent pitches providing little help for the pace bowlers. But back in England, Graveney suggested a return to the tactics of the 2000 season.

"We used the format last summer against the West Indies and that would be the more likely option, although I wouldn't like to put all my eggs in one basket," Graveney continued.

Graveney also had some encouraging words for Dominic Cork, but stressed that the Derbyshire captain still had some work to do to prove his fitness.

"I have seen Dominic play and Geoff Miller has seen him play and it is pleasing for everybody: he seems to have made a good recovery," said Graveney.

"He seems to be back diving around and doing what everybody expects Dominic to do and certainly the way he played in the Second Test against the Windies last year, when he walked down the steps as we were staring at both barrels, we know he can make a massive contribution.

"But Benson and Hedges cricket is different to playing a Test match and the messages will get through to Dominic that we need him to play for Derbyshire against Pakistan in the tour match beginning on Tuesday.

"We wouldn't normally expect players to turn out against the tourists, but we are looking for him to fully participate and bowl a lot in that game. The same really applies to Matthew Hoggard, he has made a speedy recovery and we expect him to play in that round of county games as well."

Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash received some comforting words too. Graveney insisted that the door to Test cricket was still open for both players as the team search for an extra batsman.

"I wouldn't even say that we are specifically looking only for a middle-order batsman because the people who have batted at seven in the past, people like Mark Ramprakash and Graeme Hick - and nobody has discarded them in terms of runs this season - they are top order batsmen within their own counties, so the fact that somebody bats three for their county doesn't mean they can't bat seven for England."

Meanwhile Ashley Giles, the centrally-contracted left-arm spinner, has admitted that he is unlikely to be fit in time for the First Test anyway.

Giles has missed the start of the England season in order to rest a nagging Achilles tendon problem and admitted that his recovery was still in its infancy. "At this stage it is difficult to say how far away I am from playing again," he said, "but as I haven't started running again yet. Lord's does look very unlikely."

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