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England calls up Amjad

Pietersen and his men have rigorous net session

Abu Dhabi: After heavy rains washed out their practice on Saturday, Kevin Pietersen and his men made most of the sunny conditions and had a rigorous net session at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Sunday.

Though the team think-tank had initially planned a practice match on Sunday, there was some change in the plan and instead, players were seen sweating it out in the nets.

While all the players looked keen to make the most of the little preparation they have before the two-Test series in India, Kent pacer Amjad Khan, named as replacement for the injured Ryan Sidebottom, looked eager to make a mark.

Surprised at the call-up, the Denmark-born Kent fast bowler with Pakistani roots said donning the English colours was something beyond his dream.

“It’s a dream come true, although I never actually thought of playing for England growing up,” said the 28-year-old pacer.

“My strength is pace and swing and I can bring reverse swing to the table,” Khan said.

Lucky

He pipped Sajid Mahmood and Liam Plunkett to find a place in the Test squad and he had no hesitation in admitting that he was lucky to be promoted from the performance squad to the national team.

“I must have done something right in the last couple of days,” he said.

“Saj and I got picked for the one-dayers and I thought if they were going to pick me then there was no reason they should not pick me for the Tests. I thought I had a chance but I knew it would come down to form on the day — that sort of stuff,” he added.

“I first believed I could play for England probably in 2002 when I took 60 wickets in a season and I was only 21. People talked about what it took to play international cricket and I felt that I had most of the attributes,” he said.

Flintoff reluctant?

Though reports claim Andrew Flintoff is still reluctant to tour India, the talismanic all-rounder, who turned 31 on Saturday, was quite enthusiastic in the nets and there was no sign of an ankle injury as he bowled for a while without any discomfort.

Adil Rashid, a promising all-rounder, has also been picked to go with the team as an understudy. — Agencies

Sports Reporter reports from Chennai

The final evaluation of the security measures in place for the England cricket team was completed on Sunday by the England and Wales Cricket Board Managing Director Hugh Morris and the Professional Cricketers’ Association’s Chief Executive Sean Morris.

The ECB delegation left for Abu Dhabi on Sunday afternoon to submit the final report, with less than a week to go for the Chennai Test scheduled for a December 11 start.

Hugh Morris, who met police officials and the commissioner, was provided a detailed written statement on the security arrangements for the visiting side on Saturday.

Morgan’s call

Meanwhile, ICC President David Morgan urged followers of the game to turn up for the Tests as a strong statement of solidarity.

“ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat will be in Chennai for the first Test and I will be in Mohali to show the ICC’s support for India and the two teams,” he said in a statement from the ICC Headquarters in Dubai.

“I would urge as many supporters as possible to join us during the series, not only because they will see two excellent sides playing Test cricket, the pinnacle of our sport, but also because by doing so we will demonstrate that we will not be dictated to by terrorists.

“I believe the Test series will be a clear demonstration of the resilience of the Indian people and the game of cricket and an illustration that the game has the ability to bring people together,” he added.

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