Tudor goes back to school

Alex Tudor, the bowling hero of Trent Bridge just four weeks ago, learned of his absence from this winter's Test squads by looking on teletext. Jamie Foster and Richard Dawson, the two 21-year-olds plucked from the county circuit to tour India and New Zealand either side of Christmas, couldn't believe their luck when contacted by chairman of selectors David Graveney.

But Tudor, the young fast bowler who has already proved - between injuries - he can make his presence felt at the highest level, suspected no news meant bad news.

The Surrey player was right, up to a point, although he did eventually find his name among the list of hopefuls who will spend much of this winter in Australia with English cricket's new National Academy.

"Alex wants to keep his head down and let his cricket do the talking for him," said Tudor's agent and long-time friend Allen Blackford. "But I know he's gutted and would have especially appreciated a call from one of the selectors to explain their thinking."

England's thoughts are as follows: They rate Tudor among the brightest talents in the country with some impressive Test performances already, including most recently the five Australian wickets he took in an innings at Nottingham earlier this month.

But the 23-year-old's medical record, littered with relatively minor injuries, alarms them, with Graveney saying: "There is no doubt his physique needs to be strengthened in order for him to perform as we know he can regularly."

The question is whether England should be doing more to help Tudor to get fit and stay fit.

"Anyone who has watched Alex train will know there is nothing wrong with his physique," said Blackford. "But people seem to want him to play every game for Surrey and England and still be fit all the time."

Whatever happens, England must not let Tudor slip through the net.

Essex batsman-wicketkeeper Foster and Yorkshire off-spinner Dawson, meanwhile, couldn't have been handed a tougher introduction to Test cricket. Foster, now regarded as the successor to Alec Stewart, will be able to ease into the England set-up provided the three-week tour of Zimbabwe goes ahead at the end of this month.

As of November, though, both he and Dawson will have their techniques tested to the full on the dusty, turning pitches of India.

The two youngsters have done enough to suggest they possess real promise. And, after all, it's about time England sent a raw newcomer on tour and came home with a gem.

Chris Read, Ashley Cowan, Jason Brown, Vikram Solanki, Ben Hollioake and Andrew Flintoff have all promised more than they were able to deliver after being sent overseas as bright young things.

None are written off. But it would be a step in the right direction for England if Foster and Dawson could be written up after their first tours.