Sunday 13 July 2014 12:21, UK
Spinner Simon Kerrigan is "in the frame" for a recall for the second Test against India at Lord's according to England bowling coach David Saker.
The 25-year-old played the fifth Ashes Test last summer but endured a nightmare debut, recording figures of 0-53 off just eight overs as Australia's batsman demolished his bowling.
But Kerrigan has quietly re-established himself at county level with Lancashire, taking 28 first-class wickets this season at an average of 34.25.
England have been searching for a spinner since Graeme Swann's surprise retirement and have worked to reintegrate Kerrigan to the national set-up by bringing him in as 12th man for the first Test at Trent Bridge, where he bowled during breaks with Saker and assistant coach Paul Farbrace.
"He's in the frame - obviously we're in search of spinners," Saker told Sky Sports News.
"We'll have to go to Lord's and assess the conditions there but it's just good to get him around our group to give him more experience with us.
"He's doing well, he's got a fantastic first-class record and if you're looking for a someone to step in as a spinner you could only look at him because of the stats he's producing."
Kerrigan played under England head coach Peter Moores at Lancashire, with the 51-year-old - talking prior to his return to the England hierarchy - talking up the spinner as a potential long-term replacement for Swann.
Lancashire named Kerrigan, who has 213 first-class wickets to his name, in their side to play Nottinghamshire on Sunday, but the bowler could be withdrawn from the match if selected by England.
"He played last summer and he's probably one of the best young spinners in the country," Lancashire captain Glenn Chapple told Sky Sports News.
"He's an excellent prospect and a good spinner all round.
"The way it works [if Kerrigan was called up] is you just replace him with a like-for-like bowler and we've got three or four spinners at the club so we'll be covered."
But former England captain Michael Vaughan has cautioned against bringing Kerrigan back against India, who are regarded as the masters of playing spin.
"I like the fact that they have brought Simon Kerrigan back into the environment this week, but I have seen enough of him this summer to know he is not ready yet," Vaughan wrote in The Sunday Telegraph.
"Instead I would pick a left-field choice and agree with Alec Stewart, who said earlier this week they should turn to the most experienced and in-form spinner in county cricket. At the moment that is Gareth Batty.
"The selectors will fear being ridiculed for picking a 36-year-old who has not played for England in Test cricket for nearly 10 years. But picking him buys England time."
