England Plan ‘Shadow Squad’

It has emerged that England are supposedly going to be sending a back-up ‘shadow’ squad with their main party this winter to provide complete cover should injuries take their toll yet again.

On England’s last tour to Australia in 2002-03, the side was ravaged by injury, which contributed to their heavy 4-1 series defeat. An official touring party of seventeen players could now be supported by an additional pool of five reserves, who will play grade cricket in Perth, where they will also be attached to Hampshire coach Paul Terry’s academy.

Injured captain Michael Vaughan, who had all but given up hope of playing in the Ashes after a long-standing knee problem, could feature in the ‘shadow squad’ if his recovery is quicker than currently expected. An overall squad of 24 players, dubbed an ‘invasion force’ by British press, would ensure that every player has a like-for-like replacement.