Caddick gets a return call

SOMERSET pace bowler Andy Caddick, who feared he might be forced by injury to quit cricket a year ago, has been recalled by England.

Caddick was among three changes to the squad of 13 for the second Test in the three-match series against Pakistan, which starts at Headingley on Thursday.

Lancashire batsman John Crawley and Essex all-rounder Ronnie Irani were also brought back, while Graeme Hick and left-arm paceman Simon Brown were discarded and all-rounder Mark Ealham was ruled out because of a rib injury.

Caddick, who has not played for England since ending Brian Lara's world test record innings of 375 in Antigua two years ago, has been battling with shin problems ever since returning from that West Indies tour.

He was ruled out for most of last season, spent the English winter having corrective surgery and is now reaping the rewards of his return to fitness by claiming 46 first-class wickets so far this summer.

"Last July I thought I would have to retire from first-class cricket, so this is the icing on the cake," he said.

Caddick's return offers him the prospect of selection for the party to tour Zimbabwe and his native New Zealand starting at the end of November.

"It would be really special for me to go back to New Zealand with England," he said. "Now I have the chance to cement a place on that tour.

I phoned my mum in Christchurch to tell her the news. My father is in hospital having knee surgery so it will be a real tonic for him."

While Cad dick celebrates his recall and a possible return to his homeland, Hick is running out of time to book a place for the tour, to his native Zimbabwe.

Hick has been dropped after a meagre tally of 195 runs in his last 13 test innings, including 43 in his six test innings this season.

Chairman of selectors Ray Illingworth said: "Hicky is struggling at the moment but this is a three-match series, we are one down and it is a game we have to win, so we can't afford to carry anybody who is not doing well."

Crawley, ignored for the 1-0 series victory over India in the first half of the summer after being plagued by hamstring trouble at the start of the season, is Hick's replacement but seems set to bat down the order to accommodate Nasser Hussain's return at number three after injury.

Irani, who made his test debut against India, was overlooked for the first test at Lord's but comes back after scoring only one half-century since May.

"I'm a little bit surprised," he admitted.

Jack Russell was retained behind the stumps despite speculation that England may revert to using Alec Stewart as wicket-keeper-batsman in an attempt to stiffen the order after their 164-run defeat in the first match.

England reject Simon Brown delivered the perfect reposte to the selectors as Pakistan raced towards victory over Durham at Chester-le-Street yesterday.

The Durham fast bowler took his tally of first class victims to 63 for the season by claiming five for 88 just hours after discovering he was surplus to requirements for the second Test at Headingley.

It was Brown's fifth five-wicket haul of the summer and restricted the tourists to 309, a first innings lead of two runs, to leave the match finely balanced.