Now England are setting the pace

When Matthew Hoggard succumbed to a back injury prior to the first npower Test against India at Lord's, the doomsday scenario was a rookie pace attack being put to the sword by Dravid, Tendulkar and Co.

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Flying Ryan: Sidebottom heads a squad of quickies who give England a plan for all seasons

Yet, there was no slaughter of the innocents. In fact, the three inexperienced home pacemen gave their vaunted opponents the run-around, seizing 17 wickets between them.

James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom and Chris Tremlett are not on the household-name level of the Fab Four who swept Australia aside two years ago, but they rose to the challenge and proved that the pool of talent at the selectors' disposal has reached unprecedented depths.

Tremlett was making his Test debut but his nerve held and he comfortably adjusted to the Lord's slope. Anderson returned personal-best figures in his first home five-day match since 2004 and Sidebottom continued to disprove the theory that he would suffer from vertigo in such heady surroundings.

Steve Harmison was initially included in the 13-man squad before receiving confirmation that he needed a hernia operation, which took place last week.

Hoggard was forced to withdraw on the eve of the match and when the selectors revealed their hand for the Test at Trent Bridge starting on Friday, the Yorkshireman's name was absent.

He needs more time but there really is no rush now, not with more alternatives emerging all the time.

The embarrassment of riches is such that England chose to omit Stuart Broad from their XI at Lord's, the same Stuart Broad who has been touted as the country's next great fast bowler. He is only 21. No rush there either.

Anderson has benefited from a spell back in county cricket and that is the route which Liam Plunkett, 22, is taking. His game disintegrated earlier this season but he just needs match practice. Lots of it. The rhythm and the pace will come again.

Andrew Flintoff is not ready to bowl in a match just yet following another ankle operation, but he will bat for Lancashire's 2nd XI against Derbyshire at Blackpool if the ground dries out.

Yesterday, the first day of three was abandoned.

Sajid Mahmood is also on course to return for the Red Rose county, after he, too, required a hernia operation, while Simon Jones may make his first four-day appearance since mid-May today when Glamorgan host Leicestershire.

What Australia would give for so many gifted quicks with so many years on their side.

Moores puts it down to the system, giving due credit to fast bowling coach Kevin Shine and the senior team's new consultant, Allan Donald.

"There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to try to develop some depth into English cricket at the right level," he said. "We never quite know how people are going to behave at that level until we put them in there. Sometimes injuries, although frustrating, can also be quite exciting because they give opportunities to younger players."

But what will the selectors do if the day comes when all these men are fit and flying?

Sidebottom was regarded as a horses-for-courses choice when he was called up against West Indies at Headingley and now England have a large cast of thoroughbreds to suit all occasions, all weather, all pitches. In this game of fantasy cricket, a fully-fit Flintoff would be the only automatic starter, as a jack-of-alltrades and master of so many.

The rest could form any number of combinations.

If sheer pace is the order of the day, Harmison, Flintoff, Mahmood and Jones could be relied upon to ruffle feathers at 90-95mph.

If steepling bounce is required on a trampoline surface, try the towering quartet of Harmison, Flintoff, Tremlett and Broad for size.

Experience will be vital when Australia next come to town, so that's when a reunion of the Fab Four, Harmison, Flintoff, Hoggard and Jones, would sound the right note.

But should the selectors want all the kings of swing together, Anderson, Sidebottom and Jones would be fighting over two places.

On the sub-continent, where reverse is the favoured gear, Flintoff, Mahmood, Jones and Anderson could wreak havoc.

But if Moores and his fellow selectors adopt Duncan Fletcher's obsession with lower-order runs, Plunkett and Broad may get the nod alongside Freddie with only the last place up for grabs.

In reality, England would nearly always seek variety, which is why the emergence of the left-armer Sidebottom and the beanpole Tremlett have been such a bonus.

All bases are covered. When — if — everyone is fit, there could be carnage in selection meetings as well as on the field.