Flower quick to do his spadework

There is not much Andy Flower doesn't knowabout one-day cricket and those that play it, but even Zimbabwe's vastly experienced batsman-wicketkeeper wanted to sneak a look at an England outfit almost unrecognisable from the last one he faced.

In fact, the only surprise was Nasser Hussain couldn't be spotted next to his Essex colleague, watching from behind the arm, in a warm-up win over Bangladesh.

England's captain sat out yesterday's practice game and contented himself with observing from side-on when he wasn't working in the nets.

Tomorrow, though, he will be back in charge for the Champions Trophy group game against Zimbabwe. It is less than a year since England beat the same opponents 5-0 in a series of one-day contests in Harare and Bulawayo, thereby extending a run of success over their one-time bogey side to 12 wins in 13 attempts - the last seven of those victories coming consecutively.

But only seven members of Hussain's current squad of 14 were in Zimbabwe last October and the skipper is having to learn about new all-rounders Ian Blackwell and Rikki Clarke, from Somerset and Surrey respectively, as he goes along.

Fitness permitting, Darren Gough, Andrew Flintoff and Michael Vaughan should be back by the time England meet Zimbabweyet again in their opening match of February's World Cup. Paul Collingwood and Craig White may struggle to return, though, if the substitutes shine this week.