In The Firing Line comment piece by Mark Dobson

AS I understand it, England's A squad is supposed to be for up-and-coming cricketers.

So, can anybody enlighten me as to why Vikram Solanki has been sent to the United Arab Emirates outpost of cricket?

England have won deserved credit for their Test Match revival against the might of the West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa.

Their one-day thinking, however, seems more muddled than ever. After their shambolic one-day display in South Africa, Solanki was told to carry on touring. Now he's in Sharjah smacking hopeless UAE bowlers to the boundary in the hope that somebody might just take some notice.

Then, he'll continue to tour with England A up until the end of the month as they travel to Sri Lanka.

Now, that's all very well for promising, raw players such as Matt Prior but why on earth is Solanki out there instead of preparing himself for what will be, personally, a massive season for him at New Road?

The new darling of English cricket, Kevin Pietersen, is doing just that. He's been given time off for good behaviour after his impressive introduction to international cricket.

But why is Solanki singled out? He flew out to Zimbabwe in the winter, made 42 and 100 in the three-match series only to be dropped for the South African opener.

After being recalled for the third game of the series and top scoring, he gets dropped again!

I think Solanki would be the first to admit that there are areas of his game which need to be worked on, but surely he's a better opener than pinch-hitter Geraint Jones?

And on England A duty, what will the selectors learn about Solanki that they don't already know?

It makes me wonder what he actually has to do before he gets a decent run in the side?

Play for a fashionable county? Perhaps. However, the present situation is helping nobody and as England lurch from one tournament to the next, they are simply not making any progress whatsoever.

Solanki will turn up for the County's pre-season training a week later than the rest of the squad and for what? A meaningless tour where he has absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose. Pietersen wasn't put through this after just a handful of games, so why Solanki?

Worcestershire's skipper will continue to do his duty and call it an honour because he is a professional person. Deep down, though, he must be seething as he wastes crucial time on a pointless tour.

Solanki, for me, is one of England's premier one-day talents. He's not one for the future, he's not one to be worked on by the England coaches. He is a naturally gifted player who should be in the first team now.

Sooner or later somebody had better open their eyes. If not, it won't just be another one-day series lost.

Another great international future will be washed away by a flood of incompetence.