Preview - Fourth Ashes Test, Headlingley
Starts 11.00am (Sky Sports 1, BBC Radio 4LW and 5 Live Sports Extra)
Chris O'Keefe
England woke up this morning, knowing they had one selection dilemma with Andrew Flintoff's fitness. However, a game of football on a damp outfield offered England another and suddenly a gaping hole looked visible in the middle order.
Matt Prior officially suffered a back spasm, and was only passed fit around 30 minutes before play was due to start. A late fitness test ensued and suddenly pictures of Paul Collingwood trying out the gloves and calls for a player being named whilst needing to make a flight to Leeds were circulating. Quite simply pandemonium!
However, whilst Prior was passed fit there was the occasional grimace from the England wicket-keeper when both taking catches and batting in the nets. This may have lead to last minute changes in batting line up with Jonathan Trott added, but not so. The one change was expected to be Steve Harmison for Andrew Flintoff and so it proved.
Andrew Strauss won the toss and decided to bat but his side includes Alastair Cook with issues outside his off-stump, Ravi Bopara out of form, the returning Ian Bell and a wicket-keeper batsman with a dodgy back. That said, Australia had their own issues. Two changes made to their side as Brad Haddin returns with the gloves and Stuart Clark replaces Nathan Hauritz meaning no first choice-spinner on a relatively dry pitch. Michael Clarke was deemed fit after an abdominal strain this week.
So plenty of interesting side stories, any of which could make an impact upon this test match.
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