Vince faces challenge before debut

LONDON: James Vince has one final task — to withstand a going-over from England’s record Test wicket-taker — as he seeks to satisfy expectations that he is ready for a Test debut against Sri Lanka at Headingley.

There is a growing sense in the higher echelons of English cricket that Vince’s time is nigh and a commanding performance for Hampshire at Old Trafford against James Anderson, 433 Test wickets to his name and no thoughts whatsoever of retirement, and the rest of Lancashire’s attack, would add the final touches to a CV that England are of a mind to accept.

It has been a good early season for batsmen wishing to pronounce themselves of England quality. Pitches are flatter because of the new toss regulations which allow the visiting side the bat first if they wish (11 of 13 matches have been drawn) and now a mini-heatwave has arrived with the promise of more batting rewards.

A full programme of matches on Sunday (today) is the final chance for England contenders to enhance their claims with all attention on the composition of England’s top six.

Trevor Bayliss, England’s coach, returned to the country on Wednesday after a short holiday in his native Australia following World Twenty20 and he is expected to hot foot it to Manchester to draw his own conclusions about Vince’s readiness for Test cricket as well as take in Ian Bell’s form down the M6 at Edgbaston.