By Richard Boock
Mark Ramprakash might be given a chance to resurrect his test cricket career in New Zealand this summer.
The self-proclaimed scapegoat of England's series loss to New Zealand - following his omission from the senior team's tour of South Africa - will discover more about his international prospects when the England A side to visit New Zealand is named tonight.
Chairman of selectors David Graveney has confirmed his panel will include stand-by players for the South African tour in the "A" side, who will play two "tests" and three ODIs" against New Zealand A in their six-week-long pre-Christmas tour.
"I believe that when tours overlap, replacements for the main tour should be included in the A squad," said Graveney during the weekend. "We'd also look to take some members of the one-day squad, although there would be no point taking someone like Graeme Hick "The intention of this A tour is to take some players as reserves for the main tour, some from the one-day party and also look at other players who have come through this season."
Ramprakash, the most controversial omission from this season's test squad, might seem the logical batting replacement for the South African tour, were it not for his dumping in the first place, and then his public spat with Graveney immediately afterwards.
Understandably miffed to be left out of the tour party, Ramprakash complained that he'd been made a scapegoat by the selectors, and Graveney responded by saying it was "cowardly" of Ramprakash to take his criticisms to the media.
If the pair can get over that little tiff, there still remains the clandestine "three oldies" policy, to which Graveney alluded on national television immediately after the announcement of the South African party.
The gist of it seems to be that the selectors - with an eye on the future - do not want any more than three senior batsmen in the top-order. Thus, Mike Atherton, Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain all received the green light, and Ramprakash, the red.
Whether or not the same policy will be imposed on the "A" side is not completely clear, but if Ramprakash finds himself on the outer for that tour as well, the back-up batsman for South Africa will probably be another casualty from England's series loss to New Zealand, Aftab Habib.
Yorkshire's Chris Silverwood, selected for three of the four tests against New Zealand without making the final line-up, is expected to become the fast-bowling replacement while Somerset wicketkeeper Rob Turner will probably provide cover for Alec Stewart and Chris Read.
* Mark Alleyne's reward for leading Gloucestershire to a one-day cricket double this season could be the England A captaincy for the tour. Alleyne is best known for his stumbling, fumbling, bumbling pursuit of the ball in the outfield in a day-night international in Australia a couple of years ago, which received repeated television airtime.
The 31-year-old's astute leadership helped Gloucestershire lift both the Benson and Hedges Super Cup and the NatWest Trophy despite losing the experience and penetration of long-standing overseas player Courtney Walsh.
Cricket: 'Scapegoat' has fingers crossed for New Zealand tour
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.