Ashes puzzle is good for future of cricket in England.

Byline: By Myles Hodgson

Coach Duncan Fletcher believes the tough decision facing the selectors about the identity of England's Ashes captain can only benefit the side in the future.

Since taking over as England coach in 1999, Fletcher has always tried to plan ahead to the next captain, the next opening batsman or the next fast bowler.

He has an envied record at identifying emerging players but has found more difficulty in choosing the next captain until Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss both established themselves as candidates to lead England into this winter's Ashes series.

It is a tough decision for Fletcher and his fellow selectors, who will reveal the captain for the Champions Trophy tournament and the Ashes tour at the Oval this afternoon.

"It's a great positive from our point of view," said Fletcher. "When Michael Vaughan first took over we were wondering where the next captain was coming from and it was the same when Nasser Hussain was captain and we didn't know where the next captain was coming from.

"It's nice to see there are two candidates now even though I wish it was only one because then we wouldn't have had this difficult decision."

Strauss is regarded as the marginal favourite for the position after leading England to a comprehensive Test series win over Pakistan and drawing the one-day series against them with a side decimated by injuries.

Lancashire all-rounder Flintoff, regarded as a more inspirational figure compared to Strauss' more cerebral type of captaincy, also impressed with a magnificent Test triumph in Mumbai and guided England to a drawn home series against Sri Lanka.

"It was a very close call," admitted Fletcher. "They've both done very well. Andrew Flintoff did exceptionally well in India because it's not easy to captain a side out there and then did well at the start of this summer.

"Strauss has also put his hand up in trying, if not more trying, circumstances because he's had to captain a side which hasn't included Andrew Flintoff ( he's a huge bonus to any side and there have been some good results since.

"You don't want to rush into things and then regret the decision you've made. The decision has been made, but we want to go away and make sure we haven't left anything out that we're going to regret."

While Fletcher is concentrating on the captaincy issue, the squad has almost chosen itself with only Simon Jones and Michael Vaughan (knee problems) both definitely ruled out.

The batting line-up will all be selected with England trusting Marcus Trescothick's judgement that he will have overcome his stress-related illness and be ready to take guard at the Gabba for the first Test on November 23.

Flintoff's addition to the squad will strengthen the batting line-up further while Chris Read and Geraint Jones will again do battle for the wicket-keeping gloves for the Ashes series having both been tried this summer. Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar's success against Sri Lanka and Pakistan this summer guarantee his selection as the number-one spinner.

England are also set to include Ashley Giles after encouraging reports about his recovery from a hernia operation which has sidelined him all season.

Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison are automatic picks among the seamers and Sajid Mahmood's extra pace and bounce should ensure his selection in a strong seam-bowling department.

That leaves the selectors with two remaining spots in their 16-man squad, which are likely to be given to a batsman and bowler to provide cover in every area.

James Anderson is expected to be given the nod ahead Liam Plunkett for the final seamer's role assuming he does not have a setback in his recovery from a stress fracture of his back which has sidelined him all summer.

Kent's Rob Key, who has passed 50 only three times all summer, is also on course to be given a shock recall to the squad as another batting reserve simply because of the impressive manner in which he dealt with the last Ashes tour four years ago, when he seemed to actively enjoy Australia's attempts to intimidate him.

There are also plans to fly out a number of players ( Plunkett, Stuart Broad, Jamie Dalrymple and Ed Joyce are expected to be among them ( to join a coaching camp in Perth just in case they are required.

Possible england squad: a Flintoff (Lancashire) or AJ Strauss (Middlesex) as capt, ME Trescothick (Somerset), AN Cook (Essex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), PD Collingwood (Durham), IR Bell (Warwickshire), RWT Key (Kent), CMW Read (Nottinghamshire, wkt), GO Jones (Kent, wkt), MS Panesar (Northamptonshire, pictured left), AF Giles (Warwickshire), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire), SJ Harmison (Durham), SI Mahmood (Lancashire), JM Anderson (Lancashire).