England Rookies Have Plenty To Play For

Fletcher gave the likes of Ian Blackwell with huge incentive to do well for their country in Sri Lanka.

Blackwell, Rikki Clarke and Owais Shah knew when they were brought into the 14-man Champions Trophy squad their chances might be limited in a campaign which may last only two matches.

But the Somerset all-rounder in particular put himself in the frame for today following his half-century and three wickets in England's warm-up match against Bangladesh - and more of the same at full international level could see him on the plane for a limited-overs series in Australia and the World Cup in southern Africa this winter.

"You can never close the door on anyone until the final (World Cup) squad is selected," said Fletcher.

"Something can happen, and you can realise it is the kind of individual you need.

"As it goes on their chances get slimmer and slimmer - but it is not totally impossible."

England's management have already acknowledged their focus is fixed not exclusively on this competition but on the need to identify who should be in the squad for the big winter dates ahead.

Fletcher once again alluded to that when he added: "We just want to give the guys experience, and the more games we win the better."

The coach's opinion of Blackwell clearly has not diminished since the team arrived in Colombo - and, after the big left-hander's runs and wickets against Bangladesh, Fletcher warned this is no time to tinker with his approach to the game.

"All he has to do is play the way he did to get himself into this squad," he said.

"If we start to ask him to change at this stage it is very dangerous."

Fletcher also took note of Blackwell's mobility and stamina in the practice match at the NCC ground, where he gave no ammunition to those who believe his 17-stone frame will present a problem for him in one-day international cricket.

"He ran well between the wickets and did not look as if he struggled too much in that heat," said Fletcher.

The coach made a point yesterday of refusing to under-estimate Zimbabwe - and opposing captain Heath Streak, whose team performed well in a 14-run defeat by India in the same Pool 2 qualifying group on Saturday, was playing an equally cagey game.

He said: "England have been playing good cricket, and so have India.

"But there were positives for us to take out of our match against India. I thought our guys batted pretty well after India's two opening bowlers performed fantastically.

"The nature of our group - and it is different in the other groups - means that if we can get a result against England it blows it wide open again."