Cricket: Spin hope ready for 'payback'

By RICHARD BOOCK in Christchurch

England's lingering concern over their test line-up appeared to ease yesterday when spinner Ashley Giles emerged from practice feeling optimistic about his fitness.

And after a training session yesterday, he was promising New Zealand "payback" for the one-day series loss.

Under an injury cloud after back spasms during the week, the 29-year-old left-armer had a bat, bowl and field before declaring himself available for the series opener, which starts today at Jade Stadium.

"It's still a little tender, but I've got through it as well as can be expected and will be available for the test - as long as I wake up feeling okay," Giles said.

"It didn't affect me too much during practice. I got through my action okay and hope things will continue to improve during the week."

Giles' likely selection means only one question remains over England's line-up.

That involves a choice between specialist batsman Mark Ramprakash and all-rounder Craig White.

Ramprakash has been a volatile talent for England over the years, promising the ride of a Rolls Royce but proving about as dependable as a Robin Reliant.

For all that, he has made progress over the past year, scoring his second test century in the fourth Ashes test and making several useful scores in India without managing to fully capitalise.

If England opt against playing him it will mean their batting order will comprise five specialist batsmen and two unreliable all-rounders, Craig White and Andy Flintoff.

That will be a huge gamble in the series opener.

Although White made a century against India and demonstrated his worth with a half-century against Canterbury last week, he is hardly a threat with the ball and is more likely to bowl batsmen into form than bowl them out.

The other change for which England are gearing involves the dramatic culture switch from India, particularly in terms of the size of the crowds expected to attend the three tests.

Giles said that it would be a case of building the pressure from within in the more sedate New Zealand venues.

"It's important we do reproduce that intensity from the Indian tour, because the crowds will not be the same here and we'll need to lift," he said.

"We're up for this series. We were disappointed to lose the one-dayers. We need to get some payback if you like, and I guess it starts now."