SUSSEX chief executive Dave Gilbert believes Chris Adams deserves another chance to see if he can perform at Test level.

Adams's place is under threat for the final Test against South Africa in Pretoria next week after England went 2-0 down in the series following their innings defeat in the fourth Test on Wednesday.

The Sussex skipper made 31, his highest score in seven Test innings, but he has scored just 103 runs at an average of 14.71.

"I hope they persevere with Chris and in all probability they will, especially as Andrew Flintoff is out of the tour with his broken foot," said Gilbert, a veteran of eight Tests for Australia in the 1980s.

"But Chris is a realist. He knows that next summer, when the likes of Graham Thorpe and Mark Ramprakash are available again, he might not get another chance.

"At 29 he probably thought his opportunity to play Test cricket had gone, so at least he's had a chance to see if he can cut it at that level and even if he only plays four Tests he'll be quite content."

Adams has often been betrayed by poor footwork outside off stump during the Tests, with five of his seven dismissals to catches behind the wicket.

And Gilbert feels it's an area of his game he must improve.

"Chris will probably be the first to admit that he has work to do on his footwork.

"I don't think anyone hits the ball as hard as him, but top performers like Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock will probe and probe that off stump line, even if it means they concede the odd boundary, because they know there will be a nick eventually."

Opener Mark Butcher and off-spinner Phil Tufnell could also find their places under threat, but Gilbert believes England should be realistic about this latest setback.

"People are obviously disappointed that the series has gone, but I think you should remember that this was always going to be a very difficult tour," he added.

"They have two of the finest fast bowlers ever in Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock in a team that has matured together, I think it was unrealistic to expect England to win the series, especially as they had won eight Tests in a row."

Six members of the squad for the one-day triangular series arrived last night and will be considered for selection when England take on a South African Invitation XI over three days in Port Elizabeth, starting tomorrow.

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