It was pretty moderate stuff even by thestandards set by England and

It was pretty moderate stuff, even by thestandards set by England and the hasty improvisation required by one-dayers.Nor did it say much in favour of selection. There were six changes in the team who finished the Zimbabwean leg of the winter tour in such strutting style. True, two were enforced by injuries to the opening batting partnership of Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight. But the top-five batsmen included a 24-year-old debutant plus four others over 30, two of whom were being recalled after a year’s absence, another after four years.Planning for the future, for the World Cup of 2003, is fraught with difficulty, but it cannot be done in the past. Perhaps nobody would begrudge Matthew Maynard, of Glamorgan, his first call-up since 1996, because he has illuminated the one-day season so far. Yet it is worth recalling that he was brought into the squad, at 34, only as emergency cover and played ahead of the 24-year-old Vikram Solanki, who was an original squad choice.

This amounts to an indefensible selection policy and it was compounded by the shot which poor Maynard played to get out.The summons to Trescothick, however, was obviously inspired. He looked good enough when he was in and when he was out he looked much better still While he was batting, England were in control. He was nervous in the early overs but this did not cause him to forget the need for urgency.Trescothick is both tall and large. In the way he carries himself and the thunderous way in which he hits the ball he looks as though he should be a son of Somerset. The immense pull to a short ball which brought him his first four was the mark of a player unafraid to play shots, and he gives the ball an old-fashioned whack.He lost Alec Stewart early but when Graeme Hick arrived the pair of them did much as they liked. The Zimbabweans put up their usual array of dibbly-dobbly merchants, which, without three first- choice men (Heath Streak was ruled out when he ricked his shoulder in the warm-up) looked more unimpressive than usual. Hick’s most striking shot was the straight six he hit towards the pavilion with no more than a check drive.

It hung in the air for an age but crossed the boundary easily. He was out the ball after he completed a 57-ball half-century when he somewhat clumsily hit a leg-break to cover.No cause for alarm, however. Trescothick skipped his way down the pitch and clubbed a four with a cross-bat over mid-on, if skipping is the word for a dainty rustic lumber. They probably danced like that at hops in Taunton Town Hall years ago.Then, with the score on 150, he holed out to deep square-leg, not quite making the distance. They immediately went off for a brief rain break, but two balls after the resumption, Maynard saw a full toss from Paul Strang dipping his way. He could see the star with which it was going to collide in another galaxy far, far away but he swished across the line and was bowled.