 | Bicknell has been a Surrey stalwart for 18 years |
England have named seamers Martin Bicknell and Kabir Ali in their squad for Thursday's Test against South Africa at Headingley. The two are added to the XI who beat the tourists at Trent Bridge on Monday to level the series 1-1 with two matches to play.
Surrey bowler Bicknell, 34, played two Tests for England 10 years ago against Australia.
Worcestershire-based Ali, much younger at 22, was named in England's one-day squad earlier this summer but did not get a game.
At least one of the pair is almost certain to play if Steve Harmison's calf injury is deemed so serious as to rule him out of the Test.
The Durham man bowled in some distress on Sunday evening and Monday morning but dug deep to claim the vital wicket of Herschelle Gibbs.
Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "The indications given to me are that there are serious doubts about the way [Harmison] was moving around here."
He said 48 hours was "not a very long time to recover from that sort of injury."
Unlucky
Quizzed on the subject of Bicknell's call-up, Graveney replied: "He has been one of the unluckiest guys not to have been selected.
"He's a very experienced performer and we do have a very young attack."
Glen Chapple, one of 13 names in the Trent Bridge squad, is not 100% fit and was not considered for Headingley.
Bicknell admitted the news had come as a shock.
"I thought someone was having a laugh. I know there are a few injuries around and if I can get onto the pitch I can hopefully do myself proud," he added.
A consistent performer, Bicknell has claimed 40 wickets at an average of 27.77 this season.
And he has also enjoyed his best ever season with the bat, hitting 421 runs at 52.62, and rescuing Surrey from precarious positions on at least two occasions.
"This season I've been doing OK, but I've had better seasons and my focus has been on Surrey," he added.
"I've not really given England a thought but if I get my chance I won't let anyone down."
Ali has impressed this term, taking eight wickets in an innings on two occasions for his county.
His 57 wickets have come at an average of 21.19.
Full squad: Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), Kabir Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Martin Bicknell (Surrey), Mark Butcher (Surrey), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Nasser Hussain (Essex), James Kirtley (Sussex), Ed Smith (Kent), Alec Stewart (Surrey, wkt), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)
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Kabir Ali deserves to be given a chance 
