September 21 Saturday 2002
Snape is England fitness doubt

COLOMBO: England off-spinner Jeremy Snape is an injury doubt ahead of their vital pool 2 Champions Trophy clash against India on Sunday.

Snape has a damaged rib muscle and is receiving intensive treatment in a bid to be fit for the match which is effectively a quarter-final tie as the winners will progress to a semi-final date against South Africa on September 25. 

"I suffered the injury bowling the nets about 10 days before we came out here," Snape told reporters on Friday. 

"I thought it had settled down but I felt it again when I dived in the field against Zimbabwe. "I've had an injection there today and I'll have another one tomorrow and I'm hoping I'll be fit to play." 

Snape was preferred to fellow-spinner Ashley Giles in England's 108-run win over Zimbabwe on Wednesday and took one for 18 from six overs. That place in the starting line-up comes at the end of a traumatic season for the 29 year-old. Part of the Gloucestershire side that has won six one-day competitions in the past four years, Snape has been included in the England squad despite playing much of his cricket for his county's second XI in 2002. 

"It's been a difficult year with Gloucestershire," he admitted. "They made decisions on various things and selection was one of those. I wasn't seen as being in the best XI but I'm looking forward to putting that right." 

Although he played the majority of the county's one-day matches, Snape took part in only five first-class games, with a rumoured rift with coach John Bracewell cited as one possible reason for his omission. 

Snape was diplomatic when he said: "I have a professional relationship with John Bracewell, he's the coach and I'm the player. There's politics at any club." 

But whether the player will be at Gloucestershire next summer remains to be seen. "I don't know," he said. 

"I've just run out of contract but I spoke to the chief executive before I went away and I would like to stay at the club," he added. 

Despite his lack of first-team cricket, Snape was still part of the England squad for the triangular series with India and Sri Lanka and played in one match during the tournament. He was full of praise for the way he had been supported by the England hierarchy. 

"I can't speak of eras before I was involved but it's still been a fantastic year for me and the management here has been the best I've known," he said. 

If he does play against India, Snape will once again get the chance to show why he has a reputation as the slowest bowler in world cricket thanks to his enviable ability to take the pace off the ball as he bowls it. 

"I can't be the quickest so why not be the slowest instead?" he said.