Angus Fraser, the old war horse apparently left out to graze in county cricket, has been hauled back for a third England tour of duty in the Caribbean. And 32-year-old Fraser, who played a central role in two of the paltry five Test victories England have managed in the West Indies since 1960, insisted today: "I'm going out there to play, not to have a three-month holiday."
But Fraser's old sparring partner Devon Malcolm has been left out in a decision which almost certainly spells the end of his Test career.
Adam Hollioake was confirmed as skipper for Sharjah, which now makes him clear favourite to lead England's one-day side all the way through to the 1999 World Cup.
England (squad to tour West Indies): M Atherton (Lancs, Capt), N Hussain (Essex, vice capt), M Butcher (Surrey), A Caddick (Somerset), A Cowan (Essex), J Crawley (Lancs), R Croft (Glamorgan), A Fraser (Middlesex), D Gough (Yorkshire), D Headley (Kent), A Hollioake (Surrey), M Ramprakash (Middlesex), R Russell (Gloucs, wkt), A Stew- art (Surrey, wkt), G Thorpe (Surrey), P Tufnell (Middlesex). Tour manager: R Bennett. Coach: D Lloyd.
England (team to visit Lahore and Shajah 1997): A Hollioake (capt), A Brown (Surrey), D Brown (Warwicks), R Croft, M Ealham (Kent), A Giles (Warwicks), D Gough, D Headley, G Hick (Worcs), B Hollioake (Surrey), N Knight (Warwicks), P Martin (Lancs), A Stewart (wkt), G Thorpe. Tour manager: D Graveney. Coach: D Lloyd.
England A (Tour to Kenya and Sri Lanka 1997-98): N Knight (capt), D Cosker (Glamorgan), M Ealham, A Flintoff (Lancs), A Giles, B Hollioake, P Hutchison (Yorkshire), S James (Glamorgan), D Maddy (Leics), D Nash (Middlesex), J Ormond (Leics), J Powell (Essex), C Read (Gloucs, wkt), D Sales (Northants), O Shah (Middlesex) C Silverwood (Yorkshire). Tour manager: G Gooch. Coach: M Gatting:
