Cricket: Andrew Strauss is backing Middlesex team-mate and Irishman Ed Joyce to handle the pressure if he is forced into a dramatic Test debut by a late England injury scare.
Joyce has been put on stand-by for an amazing debut in the opening Ashes Test after Ian Bell suffered a blow on his left wrist batting in the nets against James Anderson at the Gabba today.
Warwickshire batsman Bell received immediate ice treatment and a precautionary x-ray at a nearby hospital revealed he had suffered heavy bruising He will have to come through an intensive fitness test at the Gabba tomorrow, leaving Joyce with the possibility of being thrust into the crucible of an Ashes series less than a week after first arriving in Australia.
But Strauss, who has come through the Middlesex ranks alongside Joyce, believes his county colleague has all the attributes to handle the situation if Bell fails to recover in time.
"I have played quite a lot of cricket with Ed and his greatest strength for me is his ability to keep a cool head under pressure," said Strauss. "If there's any guy that I know that would be well set to make a debut in these circumstances it's him.
"It would be a huge ask for him if that was to happen but he's always remained cool when under pressure in the past and I think everyone in the side knows he's a quality player - if it happens, it happens, but we're still very hopeful that Ian is going to play."
Joyce only landed in Australia last Friday having been called into the squad as a replacement for Marcus Trescothick, who dramatically quit the tour after suffering a recurrence of the stress-related illness which ruled him out of the Champions Trophy last month.
But England still remain hopeful that Bell, who scored 132 in the drawn match with South Australia at Adelaide last week, will recover to take his place in their line-up on Thursday morning.
Asked about Bell's chances of playing, Strauss stressed: "It would be a blow if he was ruled out but I think we're talking hypothetically there. He's taken a blow on the wrist today but from what I've seen I don't think it's going to prevent him playing. We're very hopeful he'll be ready to play."
While England were briefly rocked by Bell's injury, there was better news about strike bowler Steve Harmison who bowled without any sign of the side strain which forced him to withdraw from last week's match in Adelaide.
"We've noticed today in the fielding practice that there's a really good buzz about the guys now," added Strauss. "We've had great preparation. Everything has gone exactly how we would have wanted it to and now we're ready to go - there's a buzz and excitement about the guys."