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Crunch time for England
England, July 06: England`s fate in the NatWest Series lies in their own hands for the last time on Sunday when they face Zimbabwe in Bristol.
England, July 06: England's fate in the NatWest Series lies in their own hands for the last time on Sunday when they face Zimbabwe in Bristol.
A win for Michael Vaughan's team will put them in a very strong position to progress to the final on 12 July.
But if England lose, they must rely on results in other games going their way - even if they manage to defeat South Africa in their last round-robin game on Tuesday.
Vaughan is acutely aware of the censure that will follow should his young side, supposedly assembled with one eye on the 2007 World Cup, fail to qualify for the Lord's decider.
"It will obviously be a blow if we do not make the final," he conceded.
"We have built up some early confidence after the way we played against Pakistan. "But it will be a reality check if we don't get to the final of this tournament.
"Even if we get to the final and even if we win it we will still know we have a very long way to go to be a really good team in one-day international cricket."
The importance of the clash with Zimbabwe has not escaped the England captain. He added: "It is a big game, there is no doubt about that.
"It could end up being the decider of who goes into the final."
While England have been strong at the top of the batting order, it is lower down that cracks have been appearing.
And Vaughan himself is a culpable member of what has been a weak middle-order.
"I am just not scoring runs," he admitted.
"Everyone will talk about the captaincy, but I don't think it is that at all.
"I have struggled for form but I feel in good batting touch really.
"I got to 35 not out at Headingley before it rained - and who knows, I could have finished with 80 not out.
"Then I go to Old Trafford and snick a jaffa from Shaun Pollock, and all of a sudden everyone is talking about your batting again."
England have released batsman Rob Key, meaning struggling rookie Jim Troughton will be given another chance to impress selectors.
Paceman Steve Harmison returns to the squad, but it is unlikely he will upset the mix of effective pace trio James Anderson, Darren Gough and Richard Johnson.
Zimbabwe make a quick return to action after playing South Africa on Saturday.
They omitted Gary Brent in favour of Ray Price in Cardiff, and will stick with the spinner following an impressive, though wicketless, performance.
Batsman Charles Coventry makes his one-day international debut at the top of the order.
Bureau Report
A win for Michael Vaughan's team will put them in a very strong position to progress to the final on 12 July.
But if England lose, they must rely on results in other games going their way - even if they manage to defeat South Africa in their last round-robin game on Tuesday.
Vaughan is acutely aware of the censure that will follow should his young side, supposedly assembled with one eye on the 2007 World Cup, fail to qualify for the Lord's decider.
"It will obviously be a blow if we do not make the final," he conceded.
"We have built up some early confidence after the way we played against Pakistan. "But it will be a reality check if we don't get to the final of this tournament.
"Even if we get to the final and even if we win it we will still know we have a very long way to go to be a really good team in one-day international cricket."
The importance of the clash with Zimbabwe has not escaped the England captain. He added: "It is a big game, there is no doubt about that.
"It could end up being the decider of who goes into the final."
While England have been strong at the top of the batting order, it is lower down that cracks have been appearing.
And Vaughan himself is a culpable member of what has been a weak middle-order.
"I am just not scoring runs," he admitted.
"Everyone will talk about the captaincy, but I don't think it is that at all.
"I have struggled for form but I feel in good batting touch really.
"I got to 35 not out at Headingley before it rained - and who knows, I could have finished with 80 not out.
"Then I go to Old Trafford and snick a jaffa from Shaun Pollock, and all of a sudden everyone is talking about your batting again."
England have released batsman Rob Key, meaning struggling rookie Jim Troughton will be given another chance to impress selectors.
Paceman Steve Harmison returns to the squad, but it is unlikely he will upset the mix of effective pace trio James Anderson, Darren Gough and Richard Johnson.
Zimbabwe make a quick return to action after playing South Africa on Saturday.
They omitted Gary Brent in favour of Ray Price in Cardiff, and will stick with the spinner following an impressive, though wicketless, performance.
Batsman Charles Coventry makes his one-day international debut at the top of the order.
Bureau Report