Fourth Test: Vaughan Backs Bell to Fill Latest Batting Void

As the building work continues on the new stand at the Oval's Vauxhall End, so with the England team. Theirs is not a process of metal and concrete construction, however, although after the comeback in the last Test at Old Trafford there is no doubting the steel skeleton that runs through the side, more one of osmosis.

A year ago, with Michael Vaughan's captaincy in its infancy, the team were cock-a-hoop after a stunning victory in the final Test against South Africa. Today there will be just five - or perhaps six - of that side remaining to attempt to complete a four-match whitewash of West Indies and make it seven wins in as many Tests since the start of a summer of unsurpassed England success.

The latest addition to the side will be Ian Bell, the 22-year-old Warwickshire right-hander in the middle of a prolific season, who will make his debut in place of Graham Thorpe, whose magnificent century one year ago resurrected a career that appeared to have foundered on the rocks along with his marriage.

Yesterday the Surrey left-hander underwent a tentative fitness test at the ground, although it leant more towards due process being observed than a strenuous workout of the little finger on his right hand fractured by Fidel Edwards last week. But it was obvious from his demeanour as he walked from the field, leaving his team-mates to their practice, that it was to be curtains for him until the first Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in December.

So the unthinkable has happened: of the middle-order engine room that began the summer against New Zealand, Nasser Hussain has retired in the wake of the success of Andrew Strauss, Mark Butcher has devised ever more bizarre ways of staying injured and now Thorpe will be missing.

Vaughan acknowledged yesterday that the loss of Thorpe, who has played the best cricket of his life over the past 12 months in averaging almost 60, was a big blow but that it is precisely the sort of situation which allows new players the opportunity to shine.

Strauss, Vaughan pointed out, got his chance in the summer's opening Test only because of a freak injury to the captain himself but is now a fixture in the side. Likewise Butcher's indisposition gave Rob Key his chance and he responded with a double century at Lord's and his unbeaten match-winning 93 at Old Trafford on Monday.

But for the notoriously fickle Wellington weather, which allowed Butcher an extra day to recover from a thumb injury, Bell would have made his England debut against New Zealand three winters ago and who knows what might have followed. The wait has obviously matured Bell as a player, as his six centuries this summer and almost 1,500 runs would suggest.

"Ian Bell will be getting a similar opportunity to that given to Andrew Strauss and Robert Key over the summer and we hope he can take it as that pair have," said Vaughan. "He has played well for Warwickshire and got a bagful of runs. We know it is a big game for him but we want him to continue his county form and just hope he will treat it as another game.

"It is not nice when lads get injured and Graham Thorpe has been in great nick, so it's a great loss to us. His experience and expertise has been invaluable, especially over the last year, but it's been shown that when guys do miss out it creates opportunities and we have been very fortunate that those who have come in have taken those chances. We want Ian to come in and create more headaches for the selectors."

There can be no better time for a young batsman to be assimilated into the England structure. Induction into a losing side, with the culture that goes with it and the onset of gallows humour, can be debilitating.

"We are winning games" said Vaughan, "and the team are confident and playing some good cricket. Test debuts can be difficult no matter what the situation and we hope he is up to the occasion. In fact we are sure he will be, as he is a pretty relaxed kind of guy. But this is probably as good a time to come in as it gets."

Once again the selection of the final England XI will come down to a choice between the raw pace of Simon Jones and the enthusiastic swing of James Anderson.

It was the Lancashire bowler who was preferred at Old Trafford, as he had been in the previous match at Edgbaston, but it was not productive with just three wickets, two of them tailend batsmen, in four innings. Vaughan, it seems, has not had the confidence in Anderson to give him the overs he needs to bring back his rhythm and confidence: it is a vicious circle.

The Oval pitch, although subject as ever to the utmost secrecy as if it were being prepared by staff from the MI6 building in their lunch hour, tends to have pace and good carry. Swing can never be discounted, as Martin Bicknell demonstrated so emphatically in his England swansong against South Africa last year, but Jones would seem to offer the more threatening option.

West Indies may also deliberate over a single change, with Jermaine Lawson considered instead of the left-arm wrist spin of Dave Mohammed, although five seamers would seem to be overegging it. A more likely change is the addition of a further batsman with Dwayne Smith possibly getting another chance.

Pitch watch

A straw-coloured strip cut into a verdant square, the pitch is generally evenly grassed and has decent pace - not as much as in some years recently but quick enough - and excellent carry through to the keeper. Good batsmen should be able to flourish although there will be help for the seamers early on.

Weather Showers

Temperature Maximum 22C (71F). Maximum humidity 60%

Win toss and bowl Batting tends to get easier on the second and third days.

Probable teams

England (possible): Vaughan, Strauss, Trescothick, Key, Bell, Flintoff, G Jones, Giles, S Jones, Hoggard, Harmison

West Indies (possible): Lara, Gayle, Joseph, Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Bravo, Baugh, Mohammed/ Dwayne Smith, Collins, Collymore, Edwards

Umpires D Hair (Aus) & R Koertzen (SA)

Third umpire M Benson (Eng)