England selectors pick winter one-day squad

Nasser Hussain will meet his fellow selectors today on the back of his team's successful tour of Zimbabwe to pick their winter one-day squad.

Hussain, coach Duncan Fletcher and chairman of selectors David Graveney will choose the squad, which will contest five one-day internationals in India and New Zealand.

After that series, England only have next summer's triangular series, the ICC Knockout in Bangalore next October and another series in Australia before they fly to South Africa for the 2003 World Cup.

In the short term Hussain wants to build on the 5-0 whitewash of Zimbabwe.

"What was impressive was the buzz I got out in Zimbabwe, a group of young lads all trying to work for each other," he said.

"I went to Zimbabwe on that first tour in 1996 and it was a tough place to play one-day cricket. We ended up losing 3-0, so to come back and win 5-0 is excellent.

"It's not just the result, it's the buzz and camaraderie when we're fielding and people working for each other.

"It was like a county side summer, as if we'd known each other for a long time, and we haven't.

All we've had is a couple of nets and a brief Test and that's it. We've come straight into it and it's been our team spirit that has carried us through."

Amongst the players to have enhanced their reputations in Zimbabwe are Jeremy Snape, Matthew Hoggard and Paul Collingwood.

As seniors like Andrew Caddick and Craig White prepare to return, Fletcher is more optimistic about England's World Cup potential.

"I don't think we had a base before, but now we're looking at getting a couple of guys back and we also have a few players on the fringe who we know can perform at this level," Fletcher said.

We still have to play against better sides but it's pleasing to leave Zimbabwe after winning 5-0 and from here on in every game is going to count."