By Oliver Brett

Gloucestershire veteran Martyn Ball won a surprise call-up for England's 2001 tour of India.

Ball, now chairman of the Professional Cricketers' Association, was unlucky not to play a Test but the trip remains a career highlight.

Here, he offers his memories of the tour, and proffers advice to England's current trio of spinners in India - Monty Panesar, Ian Blackwell and Shaun Udal.

Question: Was it a surprise to find yourself on a Test tour?

Richard Dawson and Martyn Ball ahead of the 2001 tour

Martyn Ball: "It was. I was already 31. I felt for three or four years I'd been playing some good cricket for Gloucestershire but predominantly in one-day cricket, which I felt was my strength.

"I was holding most things that came my way at slip and as a containing bowler I felt I had worked out my game pretty much inside out.

"I felt I had deserved a chance in one-day competitions but it was a surprise when I got called up on that tour.

"In some ways I felt a bit like Ian Blackwell might do now, who most people would class as a very fine all-round cricketer - his batting obviously being a lot stronger than mine.

"I don't think three or four months ago he would have envisaged himself playing in a Test match in India.

Was the tour an eye-opener?

MB: "Yes it was, and not just because of the fanatical way in which cricket is supported out there.

"It was straight after 9/11, after Andy Caddick and Robert Croft decided not to tour.

"It was a high-security tour - we weren't allowed out of hotels and there were armed escorts everywhere - but it was one which I thoroughly enjoyed."

You played one tour game in Hyderbad, and did pretty well...

MB: "Well, myself and Richard Dawson played in Hyderabad because Ashley Giles still had his Achilles problem, and I felt I played really well. I took three wickets in their only innings and scored 28 and 25 not out.

Martyn Ball strikes in his only 2001 tour appearance

"That second innings I batted for a couple of hours when we were in a bit of an embarrassing situation and had to avoid losing the game.

"After that game I felt I was in a strong positon to play in the first Test but the following day I had a whack on the hand in slip-catching practice which ruled me out of the final warm-up game.

"Then, in the lead-up to the second Test there was a doubt over Giles' fitness so I was working hard in the nets and showing interest.

"And even after that, Duncan Fletcher told me not to switch off because there were talks we might even play all three spinners in the last Test.

"It's easy for a tour member to be cast aside. Some guys didn't play at all, even in the warm-up games, like Warren Hegg and Usman Afzaal.

"But I was used all the time. When Michael Vaughan had a stomach bug I fielded at slip and I think I caught Sourav Ganguly off Freddie Flintoff so I was always involved.

How do you think England might choose their spinners this time?

Somerset's Ian Blackwell is looking favourite for a Test debut

"I would have thought we would play two of them in the first Test match, one of the left-armers with Shaun Udal.

"But then again if Monty is bowling well - and we know Blackwell's taken wickets and got 59 yesterday - you could go in with the two left-armers.

"If you have him coming in at eight - and he's quite capable of getting a Test century - it adds to your options.

What's it like bowling in India at players who are famously good at playing spin?

"If I'm going to bowl at the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag - who are very attacking, quality players of spin - I would prefer to bowl at them on Indian wickets rather than at Bristol.

"The reason they've got so many spinners is because their wickets do turn. In England, Old Trafford and Northampton are the only ones that turn."

Having been on the county circuit so long, what did you make of the England set-up?

"At Gloucestershire, we had been ill-disciplined, professionally, right from 1988 when I made my debut up until the mid-1990s when John Bracewell came in and we started winning one-day trophies.

"So with England I expected it to be equal or up a level from that on discipline.

"But I was wrong. Everyone was encouraged to give their opinon, there was no senior player rubbish where you don't speak until the captain has spoken or anything.

"Nasser Hussain was a very strong character and very opinionated but everyone was encouraged to give their thoughts, whether it was someone like Graham Thorpe, or James Foster who was on his first tour.