Congratulations to all the young players who have got their chance in the England one-day squad which was announced this week.

The selectors have decided to start building towards the next World Cup in 2007 which seems a sensible enough policy.

All I hope is that if, a couple of years down the line, they discover that some of the youngsters don't quite cut it at international level they don't do a sudden about-turn and start rebuilding again with some more experienced players.

I don't think it will happen. The selection of one or two of the new faces surprised me, I must admit, and it's probably best that I keep my own counsel on why that is. Yop never know who might be reading this column.

But it's good to see the likes of Jim Troughton of Warwickshire getting his chance.

We played at Edgbaston earlier this month and he made a nice hundred against us, admittedly on a day when our attack wasn't really firing.

Nevertheless, he looked a very composed batsman with a solid technique. He's certainly improved since last season and has no doubt benefitted from spending his winter at the England Academy.

I only hope for Jim's sake that from now on anyone who talks about his cricket tries to avoid mentioning that his grandfather once played the character of Dr Who a few years ago!

There are a couple of interesting choices among the bowlers in Darren Gough and Richard Johnson who have been included at the expense of Sussex's own James Kirtley.

Fully fit, I would always have Goughy in my England team. He's a talismanic figure who has fought back well after a couple of years of injury problems to hopefully re-establish him at international level when a lot of people thought his England career was over.

But his selection doesn't fit in with the thinking about choosing a young squad does it? I can't see Goughie leading our attack in the next World Cup.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney has justified it by saying his experience will help the younger bowlers but I firmly believe that if you want to play international cricket then the ability to adapt and thrive at that level should really be an inherent part of your make-up already.

Richard Johnson has almost crept up un-noticed in the last few weeks. He is genuinely quick and is bowling well for Somerset. If he stays fit he could prove to be a real find. But he's 29 in December which is a year older than James Kirtley and again I find myself wondering whether he will still be around in four years' time.

Good luck to them all anyway but I still expect James to have some involvement in the forthcoming series.