England hope seven is their lucky number

England go into the fourth Test against the West Indies at Headingley on Thursday with the series level at one apiece and all to play for. That has not stopped the old selectorial disease of an over-cautious batting line-up infecting the Test squad again.

"We are more than likely to play seven batsmen," said chairman of selectors David Graveney last week. Extra insurance againt the pace threat of Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh may seem sensible but it sends a negative message to the opposition, especially when the tourists 'back-up' bowlers have been unimpressive.

'If six batsmen can't do the job, one more isn't likely to make any difference,' runs the old maxim and the West Indies will not be overawed by the fact that the man chosen to bolster the England line-up is Graeme Hick. The Worcestershire captain has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra and like 'Ol Blue Eyes' has an army of adoring fans for whom he can do no wrong.

This will be his tenth recall and to have him batting at seven, when he normally bats at number three for his county, is saddening for both the player and England.

There is some justice in Hick's claim that he is often the last in and first out when it comes to the England team. It is also fair to say that he never had a decent Test run in a settled spot.

Perhaps Duncan Fletcher, once Hick's captain when they played for Zimbabwe and now England's coach feels he can succeed where others have failed. However, despite his 111 first-class hundreds, Hick has rarely scored runs under pressure in any of his 58 Tests.

He owes this latest reappearance to the poor form of England captain Nasser Hussain. In each of his last 10 Test innings the Essex batsman has not passed 25 and this season has made a mere 144 first-class runs from 13 innings at an average of 12.

No-one is seriously suggesting Hussain's place is in immediate danger and he will take heart from the example of former Australia captain Mark Taylor who proved that bad periods with the bat do not last forever.

Given the relative ease with which England bowlers sustain injuries, going into a match with just a four-man attack, all fast-medium or above in pace, is a risk.

Headingley is traditionally a fast bowler's wicket but it only needs one member of the quartet to break down on the first morning for the rest to have an unequal workload.

As if to emphasise this problem, Hampshire left-arm quick Alan Mullally, called into the squad to provide cover for the leading bowlers (Darren Gough, Andy Caddick, Craig White and Dominic Cork) withdrew from the squad on Tuesday with a thigh strain.

With off-spinner Robert Croft dropped, England's variation will come from part-time spinners Hick and Michael Vaughan. Marcus Trescothick can bowl medium-pace but it is asking a bit much of the Somerset batsman after his distinguished debut at Old Trafford to be a 'golden-arm' as well.

After their Manchester revival the West Indies are not expected to make many changes. They will still be without left-handed batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (forearm) and his talent for patient resistance could be missed at Headingley where uneven bounce is always a threat to dashing strokeplay.

Franklyn Rose is doubtful after twisting an ankle during a 'warm-down' at Derby and could see his place taken by Nixon McLean. Fast bowler Rose has been one of the weak links in the tourists' attack and McLean, who had a season with Hampshire, took five for 49 at Headingley, albeit against a weakened Yorkshire side earlier in the tour.

Chris Gayle did his Test prospects no harm with a century against Derbyshire but he has failed to sparkle in the Tests so far and Ramnaresh Sarwan's undoubted class suggests he is worthy of another chance. Important as this Test is for the teams it is equally so for Headingley itself.

The ground's infamous Western Terrace has been home to a hardcore of ill-behaved spectators in recent years and was the scene of racial disturbances between England and Pakistan fans eight years ago.

Being taken off the Test rota is a constant fear and in the close season the terrace will be demolished as part of a 10 million pounds (15 million dollars) redevelopment scheme.

In the meantime closed-circuit television will be on the lookout for troublemakers and streakers are set to have their clothes confiscated rather than be chased across the outfield as happened repeatedly at Old Trafford.

Come next year there will be a mote around the boundary edge to deter people from running across the boundary. Now that is a defence that might even command admiration from Yorkshire hero Geoffrey Boycott.

Mail Cricket Editor