ENGLAND'S selectors have never had it so good. Everything they have tried recently has come up smelling of roses.

Particularly the controversial choice of Geraint Jones as a Test keeper instead of Chris Read. But they still have to face up to the one big flaw in Michael Vaughan's line-up - the lack of a genuine, match-winning spinner.

Ashley Giles has produced one or two good performances with the ball but he must be one of the most under-used bowlers ever to play regular Test cricket.

In England's remarkable transformation over the last three months, he has sent down 94 overs in six Tests, claiming 5-256 at an average of 51. Take away his one meaningful contribution - his 3-87 from 39 overs in the second innings at Lord's - and there's not much left.

England's red-hot seam attack, and the conditions in which they have turned over the West Indies and New Zealand, have kept Giles in the background.

But, apart from one or two spells, he has failed to impress when Vaughan has given him the ball.

The selectors point to his ability to make crucial runs down the order - 107 in his last five innings - but, if ever England are to knock the Aussies off their perch, they need a wicket-taking spinner.

Haul

It could be Gary Keedy. The Lancashire left-armer is pushing hard for a chance and earned a match haul of nine wickets in the championship win over Worcestershire.

Last year he was the leading England qualified wicket-taker in the first division, and selectors' chairman David Graveney had a quiet word of encouragment in his ear during the winter.

"I just have to keep taking wickets for Lancashire," he says. "I will never give up hope of playing for England."

Not surprisingly, though, England are fixated with runs and pace. Keedy, a spinner who can't bat has got it all to do to change their minds.

And at Trent Bridge today when England launched their bid to whitewash the Kiwis 3-0, the role of the team's spinner had not even come up for discussion. Tweet