Date-stamped : 17 May94 - 14:24 ILLY'S FIRST HAND UNLIKELY TO SHOW A MAJOR RESHUFFLE Mike Selvey expects the new chairman of selectors to stick with the tried and trusted Ray Illingworth's new selection committee meets today to choose a 13-man squad for next week's brace of limited-overs internation- als and all the intelligence suggests that they will select, on a horses-for-courses basis, a one-day side. It is obvious really; Illy has his finger on the pulse all right. There is often a tendency to lean towards players deemed "one-day specialists", although this is often a kindly euphemism for ped- dlers of the brisk 30 and tidy 10 overs who never make Test stan- dard. Selection can be blind in this regard but, if anyone is able to make the distinction between these men and quality Test cricketers, it is England's captain Mike Atherton. Until last winter his career was blighted by the assumption that he might be able to score runs in Tests but not in the knocka- bouts despite his Man of the Series award in the 1992 matches against West Indies. Having missed 29 subsequent matches he came back in the winter with scores of 86, 46, 19 not out, 41 and 51 to dispel the myth. QED. If Atherton has his way - and he ought to despite Illingworth's hands-on approach - this first effort will probably not deviate too far from the players who laboured in the Caribbean earlier this year. After the previous winter's debacle in India and Sri Lanka it was a party chosen with purely Tests in mind. Only the balance of the side should occupy any lengthy discussion today. In the West Indies England's batting showed signs of maturity the longer the tour progressed: Atherton and Alec Stewart have now gelled into a formidable opening partnership; Robin Smith's cen- tury in Antigua was like a casting off of shackles and someone will pay dearly for the lost year that preceded it; and both Graeme Hick and Graham Thorpe developed their case. All should be included. So on past record should Neil Fairbrother, who was not on the tour but can do a better job than many Test players, with scoring strengths in the short game that are Test match weaknesses. He has a hamstring injury, however, and would be required to test this out in Lancashire's match at Fenner's today if he is going to play. If not, Mark Ramprakash, Nasser Hussain or John Crawley could play. Certainly, whatever Graham Gooch's form - and yesterday he was prolific - the option to regress and reintroduce him should be resisted, not just for the Texaco matches but henceforth: he is a formidable player but the mould was broken last winter and the way ahead does not lie with 40-year-olds. The basis of the bowling is there too: Angus Fraser, Devon Mal- colm, who bowled perfectly respectably in his only limited-overs international last winter, and Andy Caddick should provide the seam bowling nucleus, backed up by Chris Lewis - after strong in- spirational words from Illingworth - and perhaps Steve Watkin. However, there is a paranoia about the length of the tail, even in a 55-over match, and the inability of certain bowlers to adapt from one form of cricket to another. That could mean that Malcolm and Caddick miss out and, with Dominic Cork injured, we could see the return of Dermot Reeve's batting and slower ball (or is it his faster one? It is hard to tell these days). Mark Ilott and Phil DeFreitas may also be in line for a recall or Darren Gough a call-up. However, if they are better than Malcolm or Caddick, they should be in the Test side as well. Perhaps they soon will be. Phil Tufnell's legal commitments have ruled him out of a spin bowler's slot and there is no obvious alternative. But Peter Such, Richard Illingworth and Shaun Udal, a much improved off- spinner who made some runs the other day, will keep their ears glued to the radio tomorrow. The wicketkeeping position, as ever, provides a headache. Last winter Alec Stewart filled the role perfectly adequately and it appeared not to affect his Test form. Although he should never again be allowed to keep in Tests, there is no reason why he should not carry on in the one-dayers, leaving space for a furth- er bowler. But if a specialist wicketkeeper is thought desir- able, Steve Rhodes could stake a claim for a Test place ahead of Jack Russell, who appears to have had his day. (Thanks : The Guardian) Contributed by Vicky (VIGNESWA@*umass.edu)