Hollioake signals England's intentions

England's meeting with Australia in the NatWest Series at The Oval represents the latest in a disappointing sequence of dead rubbers in relation to Saturday's final at Lord's. Alec Stewart's side have no one to blame but themselves, of course, after losing all of their five matches to date, yet there will be some sense of purpose in the way they set about their third tilt at the world champions.

Two weeks ahead of the first Test of the Ashes series, today's 50-overs match does provide an opportunity for strengthening morale, reinforcing the self-belief that will be vital if the summer's main course is not to go the way of the appetiser.

Although destroyed by Australia's new-ball brilliance under the Old Trafford lights, England did take their oldest rivals to the last over in the first encounter at Bristol, which Ben Hollioake clearly had in mind when he promised a closer contest in daylight in the capital.

"It will not have a lot of relevance so far as the Ashes is concerned, but everyone is gagging to beat Australia," Hollioake said.

The Surrey all-rounder's unbeaten 37 at Bristol sounded distant echoes of his explosive entrance into international cricket four years ago, when he hit a very rapid 63 against the Australians, suggesting to more excitable observers that a star of Bothamesque magnitude had been discovered.

He has too often resembled one of the shooting variety since then, but at 23 has grown up enough to acknowledge that he has not always applied himself as he should do, particularly in county cricket.

"I've probably been a better player under pressure," he said. "I've not done as well as I should have done in certain situations. It is not that I'm not trying on the easier days but maybe I have been complacent."

A repeat of the promise shown at Bristol by both Hollioake and Owais Shah might help England land a pre-Ashes strike, although after losing their 100 per cent tournament record to Pakistan, Waugh's troops will be eager to avoid another defeat.

The experiment of Damien Martyn as a close-of-innings bowler is not likely to be repeated, with Ian Harvey expected to return. Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath are also likely to be recalled. Martyn or Andrew Symonds may step down for Harvey, while Jason Gillespie could make way for McGrath.

For England, the key batsman Graham Thorpe is still sidelined by a calf strain, but Michael Vaughan is expected to overcome a knee strain and Dominic Cork has recovered from a bruised left index finger.