England captain Alastair Cook admits his side would be taking a step into the unknown if they played Simon Kerrigan against India at Lord’s next week, but the hosts could be ready to take that risk after drawing the first Test.
Kerrigan has been added to the squad for that game having been present this week as a net bowler and could get the chance to put his nightmare Test debut behind him.
He played against Australia in the final game of last year’s Ashes at The Oval and came perilously close to getting the yips, bowling eight overs of dreadful deliveries and being pummelled for 53 runs.
His record for Lancashire, where England coach Peter Moores mentored him, shows he is better than that but Cook concedes there is an element of risk in the selection.
“Simon is a very tough kid, he had a tough eight overs against Australia and he’s fought his way back,” said Cook. “Until you make a contribution for England you never quite know if you belong in international cricket at Test level but from what I’ve seen as a character and with the talent he’s got with the ball, I think he’ll be fine.”
Although Cook leaves Nottingham as a Test wicket-taker, he also does so with many unanswered questions about his form.
“I’ve had a couple of chop ons, then bowled hitting your thigh pad. It’s a testing game and these things happen when you’re not in the best of form,” he said. “But it’s how you react to them and what you’re doing in your practice. I’ve got to believe the wheel will turn at some stage. I need to start scoring runs.”
