Injuries A Headache For Ashes Selectors

Chairman of selectors David Graveney is poised to unveil the tour squad at a Lord's press conference with injury doubts threatening to disrupt the selectors' preferred make-up of the party.

Doubts still remain about whether Darren Gough, who has had three operations this year to cure a troublesome right knee, can withstand the physical demands of a three-month tour to Australia.

England's management have similar concerns about the fitness of Glamorgan's Simon Jones, who claimed four wickets on his debut against India at Lord's but has struggled to shrug off a rib injury sustained during that match.

Young Lancashire fast bowler James Anderson, who has played only 10 first class matches this season, may be able to capitalise on the injury crisis to claim a possible Ashes call-up after capturing 44 wickets.

The 20-year-old was playing in the Lancashire Leagues only last season for Burnley, but his form has been so impressive that Graveney has been given rave reports from every county he has visited in recent weeks.

Anderson will fight it out with Jones and Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison, who claimed five wickets on his debt against India at Trent Bridge, and they will contest the final two spots in England's six-strong fast bowling battery.

With Andrew Flintoff's fitness also uncertain after an operation to cure a hernia condition, the 17-man squad will be accompanied by several back-up clauses.

"Probably for the first time, the team will be announced subject to fitness," explained Graveney.

"Andy Flintoff has had an operation - he'll be in the team - but somebody like Simon Jones may or may not be in the team.

"He's currently unfit, Darren Gough is currently unfit, so it will be the proviso of those guys being fit enough to go."

Two spinners are also expected to be chosen, probably Ashley Giles and promising Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson, and six batsmen will complete the tour squad that leaves in just under five weeks' time.

Most of the batsmen pick themselves, but once again there are doubts over two of them with Mark Butcher still suffering with knee trouble while the mental strength of Graham Thorpe will also be under scrutiny.