Bicknell gives up hope of England recall

"Whether I score a hundred and take another eight wickets in this game it's still not going to happen." So said Martin Bicknell to CricInfo yesterday, after yet another successful day for his county of 16 years, Surrey.

In-form and bearing the responsibility of carrying the bowling and rescuing the batting against Glamorgan, Martin Bicknell was downcast yesterday regarding his chances of an England recall, remarking, "It's pointless talking about it because it's not going to happen."

Despite the temptation of seamer friendly wickets at Headingley and Bicknell's home ground of The Oval, the 32-year-old can see no circumstance when the selectors will turn to the reliability that has brought 50 wickets in a season ten times.

Returning figures of 6/69 yesterday, the right-armer then steadied Surrey with 25 not out, to approach 500 Championship runs in just 11 completed innings at an average of over 40. He has 51 wickets at 21.

Guildford-born Bicknell has a long-term achilles problem that flared up on Thursday and will require surgeons to "drag a bit of scar-tissue out" in the winter. This makes Bicknell, often seen as injury-prone, a short-term answer if he is to add to his two Test appearances, which were both against Australia back in 1993.

He was apparently 20 minutes away from selection for the Second Test at Lord's, and was understandably disillusioned by the experience.

So definitely no chance of the recall? "I don't think so," said a phlegmatic Bicknell, sadly shaking his head.

Meanwhile, Graham Thorpe "is hoping to play on Sunday," according to the popular Bickers. Ian Ward "may struggle" to be fit for Surrey's National League match with Middlesex at The Oval, after aggravating a knee injury whilst batting yesterday. Mark Ramprakash "is fine" after twisting an ankle playing indoor soccer on Thursday.