LEEDS, England (AP) _ England will field an unfamiliar bowling
attack in the second Test against the West Indies starting Friday at
Headingley, with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and fast bowler Matthew
Hoggard out injured.
Flintoff, who also missed the opening Test at Lord's that ended
in a draw on Monday, failed a fitness test on his ankle on
Wednesday. Hoggard is sidelined with a groin strain, forcing England
selectors to call up fast bowlers James Anderson and Ryan
Sidebottom, who played his only test six years ago.
England captain Michael Vaughan returns from a finger injury that
kept him out of the Lord's Test. His return means stand-in captain
Andrew Strauss could be dropped.
``You are always under pressure playing international cricket,''
said Vaughan, who has not played Test cricket since December 2005
because of a series of injuries. ``I know I need some runs and I am
pretty confident I can get a few.''
``When you've had a bit of a break like I have, it almost feels
like you are starting again.''
The West Indies arrived in England with a new coach, David Moore,
a new captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, and without batsman Brian Lara who
is now retired. Despite only having four days to get ready for the
seam-friendly Headingley pitch in Leeds, Moore wants more
consistency.
``It's something we're working on _ and we are looking forward to
being challenged again by England and rising to it,'' Moore said.
``We have to put history behind us as we work in a new era with a
new generation of cricketers. The key is our consistency and ability
to back up a good performance in Test after Test.''
The West Indies is struggling to halt a decline in form _ since
its win over England in Birmingham in June 2000, it's not won a Test
away from home against any country apart from Zimbabwe and
Bangladesh.
``We did some good work at Lord's, which is good for the boys'
confidence,'' Moore said. ``But every new game is different, and we
have to start again and take the good things out of Lord's and work
on the things that we weren't so happy with.''
While Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell and Matt Prior
all made centuries for England in the first innings at Lord's, only
two passed 50 in the second innings.
``That's something that we can take heart from,'' Moore said.
Moore was also pleased that the West Indies recovered from 187
for five to post 437 all out in its first innings, with support from
the tail end.
England was let down by its bowling at Lord's, with Hoggard
injured on the third day and Steve Harmison lacking accuracy in
taking only one wicket for 117 runs in the first innings.
``Sometimes you can try too hard and I felt he (Harmison) did
that at Lord's and just got away from himself,'' Vaughan said. ``He
has to relax and bowl, we all know he can do it.''
Spinner Monty Panesar took 6-129, with five wickets through lbw
decisions.
Rain meant the West Indies only played 22 overs on the final day
as it chased a total of 401 to win.
Sidebottom will be bidding for a bowling spot alongside Anderson
and seamer Liam Plunkett. Anderson was drafted into the England
squad for the first test, but did not play. Plunkett took 2-107 in
the West Indies' first innings, and 0-48 in the rain-affected second
innings.
The 29-year-old Sidebottom has only played one test for England _
a win over Pakistan at Lord's in May 2001. The left-armer played two
limited-overs matches for England in 2001.
``I probably didn't perform to the best of my ability when I
played that Test but I am a better bowler now,'' Sidebottom said.
He's eager to go one better than his father, Arnie Sidebottom,
who made one Test appearance for England in the 1985 Ashes series.
``The one-cap wonder thing does get mentioned a lot but it
doesn't bother me,'' Sidebottom said. ``My dad and I still have a
joke and a giggle about it. He's happy I'm back in.''
