Mick Newell backs Adam Lyth for Trent Bridge test
Monday 3 August 2015 14:49, UK
England selector Mick Newell has given his backing to Adam Lyth and said his position in the squad is completely justified.
Opener Lyth has struggled with the bat so far this series, managing only 72 runs in six innings with a top score of 37.
England have already reshuffled their batting line up once this series with Jonny Bairstow replacing Gary Ballance, leading to Ian Bell and Joe Root moving up the order.
There have been suggestions that Alex Hales – who plays for Nottinghamshire, where Newell is director of cricket – could be brought in as a replacement.
"We haven’t even discussed anything beyond this Test match," said Newell.
"Adam Lyth has everyone’s confidence to come out here on Thursday and score runs for England. He has justified his place in the team and scored an awful lot of runs for Yorkshire to get into this team and he has a test match century under his belt so he has everyone’s confidence.
"It’s up to players like Alex Hales and others to push their cases in the county games."
The fourth test will begin at Trent Bridge on Thursday and Newell is confident the wicket, which historically provides bowlers with a good amount of swing, will give plenty of opportunities for catches in the slips.
"It’s looking good. The groundsman is preparing the pitch as he always does," added Newell.
"I think the main issues are that we want to make sure it has pace, carry and bounce through to the wicketkeeper and the slip fielders are there to take the catches as they come. The main issues for us are mainly pace and bounce in the wicket.
"Sideways movement is what happens in England at the moment. Trent Bridge is more of a swing ground than anything else and if the weather stays overcast and cloudy over the next few days there will certainly be a chance that the ball will swing around a lot."
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