Tuesday, October 30, 2001 First, the good news. The dithering is over. Everybody has made his mind up. The tour is on, and three of the five doubters have said yes (see news story). So 14 of England's 16 first-choice selections are now on course to be on the plane (mouthing, no doubt, a silent prayer).

Next, the other good news. Marcus Trescothick has said yes. So England have one established opening batsman. Better still, they have a top six: Trescothick, Vaughan, Butcher, Hussain, Thorpe, Ramprakash. Three right-handers, three left; the right-handers majoring in defence, but all able to attack; the lefties more inclined to go for for their shots, but able to mount long vigils as Trescothick did with a hundred at Galle last winter and Thorpe with his century at Lahore. They also have just the right amount of experience - though none of them has tasted the unique flavour of a Test in India.

Now, the bad news. Both the drop-outs are bowlers: Andy Caddick and Robert Croft. And the other two bowlers among the five doubters, Craig White and Ashley Giles, have still to pass fitness tests (on November 7). The farce of the last two weeks may not be over yet. But we can already see the ending, and it is an appropriate one. Nasser Hussain will be riding into the ring on a pantomime horse.

Caddick and Darren Gough, who have taken the new ball in every one of England's 25 Tests under Duncan Fletcher, will both be at home, discovering what their wives were talking about in previous years when they complained about having to do the Christmas shopping. The new ball will be taken, as things stand, by Matthew Hoggard and Jimmy Ormond, who have played three Tests between them. India's middle order made 600+ against Australia in their last home series: against this lot, they will surely be looking for four figures.

The loss of Croft is less grievous. He has a useful Test record overseas - but then he has never had to bowl at Tendulkar and Dravid, as he made his international debut just after England's last series against India, in 1996.

Neither of the drop-outs deserves any flak. The ECB was right to give them the choice, and they are entitled to exercise it: if they didn't feel happy going, it is better that they don't go. Now it's up to the selectors to find some firepower. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. His name is Tudor.

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