England's fielding handicap

Derek Pringle, in Bulawayo, previews tomorrow's first one-day international

Ever since England arrived here, they have been ferried around in a bus with "Girl's College" emblazoned on the side. Whether or not it is an accurate reflection of what the Zimbabwean cricket authorities think of Michael Atherton's team, or simply the only available 20-seater in Matabeleland, tomorrow's one-day international promises to be anything but an easy ride for the tourists.

Since their elevation to Test status in 1992, Zimbabwe have met England three times in one-day cricket, beating them twice in low-scoring matches in Australia. It is a form of the game taken very seriously in these parts as evidenced by the prime spot given to tomorrow's pitch. By contrast the Test pitch is on the edge of the Queen's Park square, ready for the lesser business - as far as the paying public are concerned - of Wednesday's Test.

Unlike the longer game, one-day cricket is notoriously difficult to call, which may go some way to explaining its popularity. England's recent limited-overs form, series victories against India and Pakistan in the summer, suggests that perhaps they ought to start as favourites, although only seven of the players that won those series are here.

The England camp feel their preparations are now on course and that key players have all had good enough work-outs to be close to merging both peak fitness and form. Only Ronnie Irani's back twinge may prevent them from playing their first- choice XI, which would see Alec Stewart return to open the innings with Nick Knight, seeking his third successive limited- overs century, while Atherton drops to No 3.

Pinch-hitting is still anathema to England's game plan. In any case the only suitable candidate for the role would be Irani, who if fit to fill the fifth bowling spot, will probably bat at seven. This suggests England will try and accelerate their scoring rate through a stroke-playing - as opposed to big-hitting - middle order of Thorpe, Hussain and Crawley, the last two having made seven appearances in limited-overs internationals. In all, only four members of the party have played this type of match for England more than five times.

Bowling tactics, something of a lottery when early hitting is employed by the opposition, will revolve around Darren Gough and Alan Mullally creating an stranglehold in the opening 15 overs as they did against Matabeleland a week ago. That task may become more challenging if regular contact is made by the whirring bat of Andrew Waller, the big-hitting opener.

The majority of the Zimbabwe batsmen favour the front foot, a preference difficult to counter in one-day cricket, with its outlawing of short-pitched bowling. England must not provide room to cut, a favourite shot here, and Andy Caddick and Robert Croft in particular, must guard against it.

Where Zimbabwe do overshadow the tourists is in the standard of their out-fielding, the brilliance of which is thought to give them a 15-run start. England may have several brilliant fielders but 15 runs is a lot to make up, and England will have to be at their best in all departments to make sure it is not a handicap that costs them the game.

POSSIBLE ENGLAND 12: *M A Atherton, N V Knight, A J Stewart, N Hussain, G P Thorpe, J P Crawley, R D B Croft, D Gough, A R Caddick, A D Mullally, C E W Silverwood.