How White took top billing

The past year has seen a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of a player who used to look uncomfortable on the international stage.

White, first picked by England in 1994 during Ray Illingworth's reign as chairman, showed glimpses of potential whenever the selectors came calling. But nothing more than that.

What a difference a year makes. Summoned to South Africa last winter after Flintoff had returned home with a fractured foot, White earned a regular place in the one-day team.

But it was still a surprise to most people when Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher decided he should be one of 12 players to receive a central contract for the seven summer Tests against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

Even then, White's world collapsed, literally. He passed out, without explanation, while walking down a Scarborough street and underwent umpteen examinations in hospital before doctors told him they could find nothing wrong.

It was, as White readily confirms, a frightening experience. Since then, though, he has felt fitter than ever - and has gone from strength to strength as an England player.

First, White starred with the ball, taking five wickets in an innings during those spectacular Test victories over the West Indies at Headingley and The Oval. Then, in Lahore before Christmas, he helped to blunt Pakistan's spin threat by making 93 during the first innings of the series.

The 31-year-old was desperately disappointed to miss out on a maiden Test century.

But having batted positively there, White is continuing to take the fight to the opposition at the start of this tour. Refusing to be tied down by two impressive spinners during England's opening warm-up game in Colombo last week, he contributed 63 and 39 to a convincing victory.

White, like Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick, has proved that selectors should peer beyond pure figures when assessing talent. All three of them are now making a mark at Test level despite less than spectacular county records.

"You have to look at statistics, but at the same time you need to judge whether a player has something about him that can develop at a higher level," agrees Fletcher.

"If you went on statistics all the time I think you could have a bit of a problem."

White may be rested for the four-day game against a President's XI here, starting on Thursday.

But when England come to pick their Test team a week later, his sharp seam bowling and aggressive batting will be vital to the cause.