Judge waits on jury's decision

squad for the sixth Test at the Oval starting on Thursday.

They had to decide whether or not to drop Robin Smith -- nicknamed

Judge because of his thick, wig-like hair.

Four years ago Smith was one of the few bright spots in England's

Ashes debacle, scoring 553 runs with two centuries to announce himself

on the Test match scene despite the Australians taking the series 4-0.

But this summer Smith has looked all at sea against the twin spin

threat of Shane Warne and Tim May, scoring only 283 runs with two 50s --

a poor return for a man who came into the series averaging around the

half century mark in Tests.

Smith is a certainty to tour the West Indies this winter, where three

years ago he proved he was one of the best and bravest players of fast

bowling in the world.

But commonsense should dictate Smith should be rested from the

summer's final Test action, not only to give the selectors a chance to

look at other players with a view to the forthcoming tour, but also to

allow Smith to undergo surgery on his injured right shoulder, an

operation which is currently booked for the end of the season.

Do not be surprised, however, if Smith is retained. When questioned

about the player's form and his inability to play the Australian

spinners, team manager Keith Fletcher said: ''I'm only one of four

selectors, but I would always have Robin Smith in my side.''

There is also an argument for leaving Graham Gooch out, as he has made

it clear he will not tour this winter.

Nevertheless, captain Mike Atherton has been insistent that the best

way to prepare for the West Indies tour is to halt the current run of

defeats -- nine in the last 10 Tests -- and as such, Gooch, with 538

runs in the series, remains a must at the top of the order.

Were the selectors looking beyond the Oval, their two most likely

inclusions would be Hugh Morris to open alongside Atherton and Alan

Wells.

Sussex captain Wells, scorer of a high-profile 100 in last week's

NatWest Trophy semi-final at Hove, is widely regarded as one of the best

players of fast bowling in the country.

As for the bowling, both Steve Watkin and Devon Malcolm, the two seam

bowlers overlooked from the Edgbaston squad, appear certain starters.

But while Malcolm will appreciate the normally pacey Oval pitch, for

Watkin it could be a poisoned chalice.

Omitted on the two grounds likely to offer him most help, Headingley

and Edgbaston, he now seems likely to be thrown in on a wicket which

usually offers a bowler of his type very little. In Watkins' favour,

however, is the fact that the Oval pitch usually bounces.

Of the bowlers included in the previous Test, Mark Ilott seems likely

to be left out after showing he cannot consistently swing the ball back

into the right hander, a pre-requisite for left-arm seamers. And given

that, Northamptonshire's Paul Taylor could be recalled.

John Emburey, having been picked on a ''horses for courses'' basis,

may still be retained in the squad having done such a good job last

week, but then left out next Thursday morning.

With the bowling cupboard so bare, the selectors might gamble on Angus

Fraser's return to form after injury -- 14 wickets in his last two

matches -- but they will not want to rush him back into the

international hurly-burly too quickly following two-and-a-half years out

of England action. All the same, England observer Phil Sharpe watched

him along with Phil Tufnell at Scarborough last week, so the inclusion

of either man is possible.

Possible 12:

M A Atherton (capt.), G A Gooch, R A Smith, A J Stewart (wkp), M P

Maynard, G P Thorpe, N Hussain, M P Bicknell, D E Malcolm, P M Such, S L

Watkin, J P Taylor.