MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec 3 (AFP) - England manager Graham Gooch says he understands why legspin maestro Shane Warne will not play for Victoria against his team in the tour cricket match starting here Saturday.
The tourists arrived here Thursday for their only match before the crucial third Test in Adelaide, starting on December 11, with most concern surrounding their batsman Graham Thorpe.
Thorpe is desperate to play after missing England's seven-wicket second Test mauling in Perth with a back injury, but if his injury does allow him to play he will be one of the few big names on show.
The Victorians will field a second-string line-up, minus eight of their first choice: Warne, Darren Berry, Matthew Elliott, Laurie Harper, Damien Fleming, Paul Reiffel, David Saker and Ian Harvey.
Warne's absence in particular robs the game of much appeal but Gooch Thursday refused to criticise the spinner, despite the fact he will play in a testimonial game for former Test player Tom Moody in Perth on Friday.
"I would have liked to have seen him playing here because he's a good mate and a great bowler but I can understand why he's not playing," Gooch said of Warne.
"He doesn't want to show his hand and he doesn't want to play against our batsmen in case he plays against them in the Test series later on."
Warne has played just two first-class games since his return from shoulder surgery. He struggled in Victoria's last game, going for five runs an over at the hands of South Australian batting duo Darren Lehmann and Greg Blewett2E
But he remains in contention to return to the Australian side for the fourth Test, starting here on Boxing Day, if he impresses in the next two Sheffield Shield games against Queensland and New South Wales.
Gooch was not critical of the decision by the Victorians to rest so many players, hinting England may also consider giving some of their key men a break.
The Perth defeat showed the English batsmen are in need of time in the middle, but the fast bowlers have had heavy workloads on tour with Darren Gough, Dominic Cork and Alan Mullally all due for a rest.
However, one man the tourists are keen to have available is Thorpe, who has the best record of England's top-order batsmen against Australia and was so badly missed in Perth.
Gooch said a decision on Thorpe would not be made until after training Friday but said time was running out to get the left-hander ready for the Adelaide Test.
"He's got to play in this game. It's important for him to get some match practice," Gooch said. "We'll have a look at him at training tomorrow but we're hopeful he will be fit."