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LEST you might not have noticed among the myriad inconsequential limited-overs cricket matches which have been taking place in Australia these past few weeks, the best-of-three final of the Carlton and United Series begins in Sydney tomorrow.

It will be contested by Australia and England - Sri Lanka knew they were unable to qualify more than a week ago but have been playing non-events since - which is rather more satisfactory than the corresponding climax four years ago when England and Zimbabwe were on the plane home and Australia A were left at water-pistols with their senior brethren.

That four-way tournament was not enough of a success to be repeated and though the triangular is the vogue game it is well worth the English Cricket Board noting that the 15 qualifying matches that we have just been through are too many. The nine matches, plus one final, they have settled on for domestic cricket in England from 2000 and beyond is ample thank you, whatever the cash registers suggest.

After yesterday's net practice, which was conducted in the sort of drizzle best recognised in Manchester, the England camp gave little away on the fitness of Darren Gough. The rhetoric is that his hamstring is OK and that he is likely to play - not that any other yarn can be spun at present. The injury is an embarrassment because it was picked up in a meaningless match against Australia last Friday. Gough is a jewel and should have been rested after three months of demanding travelling and cricket. Without him England's chances of beating Australia are severely diminished.

The best news concerns Neil Fairbrother, whose own hamstring has responded well to treatment and will almost certainly play. This will bring immense relief to the team management and not simply because Fairbrother is reborn as a key player in the middle order. John Crawley is in no sort of nick, Ben Hollioake's Lucanesque tour has given him no relevant match practice whatsoever and Mark Alleyne has flown home after the shocking death of his father in a car accident in Barbados.

It is a case of all hands to the pump and therefore another opportunity is granted to the gutsy Vince Wells. He looked out of his depth against Shane Warne the other night - he is not the first of course - but still clawed his way to 39 valuable runs, which were full of character if not class. Mark Ealham should not bat too low tomorrow if any headway is to be made against the Australian spinners because he is one player, along with Graeme Hick, who is not limited to the sweep shot as the sole method of ensuring that the scoreboard ticks over.

Hopefully, they will have studied the way in which the Sri Lankans use their feet so effectively - this is not a new trick and drive the ball with a vertical bat. If they have not then the same old confusion against spin could cost them the series.

Most of this, mind you, will depend on the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The last couple have not been up to scratch - too dry, too slow, and too much in favour of even mediocre spinners. The best SCG pitches allow a little for everyone and certainly have plenty of pace for the stroke-makers to entertain the sell-out crowds.

In a cracking match in Sydney three weeks ago England beat Australia by seven runs on an ideal pitch and there should be no excuse if another such surface is not on show tomorrow.

Australia start as favourites, having won their last four matches. What is more, they have everybody fit and playing somewhere near their peak. England have lost four of their last five matches and are still not sure that their best team will get on the park. It will have to if the odds are to be upset.