England recalls veteran bowler

Press, 17 June 1986, Page 22

England recalls veteran bowler

NZPA-PA ’• London England’s selectors yesterday recalled the veteran medium-pace bowler, John Lever, from a five-year absence from test cricket, and replaced the wicketkeeper, Paul Downton, with the uncapped Bruce French for the second test against India, starting on Thursday. The 13 from whom the team for the Leeds test will be picked Is likely to Contain six batsmen and drop two bowlers, the chief selector, Mr Peter May, said. The aim was to reverse England’s five-wicket defeat in the first match of the three-test series by building a big score, Mr May said. “We are going for a win

and to do so we must have enough runs. Our squad covers every eventuality of pitch and weather.” The list brings in the batsmen, Wilf Slack and Bill Athey, while Tim Robinson is dropped, along with Greg Thomas, who was twelfth man in the first test at Lord’s. The opening batsman, Graham Gooch, will be the vice-captain to Mike Gatting, who took over the captaincy from David Gower after England lost the first test French and Slack made minor contributions to England’s West Indies tour last winter, but the recall of Athey and Lever took English cricket deep into the past.