Amjad gets the nod!

ENGLAND Captain Andrew Strauss declared himself confident that England could retain the Wisden Trophy by winning the fifth and final Test starting today at Trinidad and so squaring the Test series against the West Indies.

Various selection permutations were considered but England decided to gamble by dropping a batsman for an extra bowler – with Kent’s Amjad Khan (pictured) getting the nod over other more experienced players.

’Amjad has been impressive both here and in Abu Dhabi where we saw him previously,’ said Strauss. ’He is just one of those bowlers who batsmen find hard to pick what type of delivery he is going to bowl.

’He has got quite a deceptive action and seems able to reverse swing it pretty well. Certainly in the two day game in Barbados recently he got it through at good pace.

’In a way he is a bit of a surprise package, different to what a lot of our bowlers offer.

’But at the same time he is inexperienced at this level and no-one can be really sure how he will react to Test cricket.

’Those are the options we weighed up, but I am excited by him because he does offer that something different.’

Picture courtesy of Getty Images