England were able to complete a lengthy, if half-paced, net session at Harare Sports Club, headquarters of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. Selection had been delayed for their opening match tomorrow, a one-dayer against Country Districts at Harare South, an evocative ground of colonial splendour.

Before they left for their tour of Zimbabwe, Michael Vaughan and his men had sweated through seven days in the Trent Bridge nets. The two industrial fan-heaters were switched on to push temperatures above 20C, giving players some conditioning for what should have been an angry African sun.

The sun proved to be little more than slightly annoyed. The players saw little of it during their first four days.

All England sides to venture abroad have seemed better ``prepared'' than the previous one, certainly from 1989 onwards, when sport science was introduced. This is the first 'A' tour with four extras on board - manager, coach, physiotherapist and fitness consultant.

Nigel Stockill is the sport scientist for four weeks, aiming to consolidate the England party's fitness and good health, though his meticulous approach could not have anticipated such freakish weather.

Stockill's scientific approach has been tested on the Zimbabwe trip. The Yorkshireman said: ``Rain was not wholly unexpected, though it has been quite ferocious. The main condition we have to get used to is the altitude. At 1,470ft, Harare is just at the bottom end of what is called 'altitude', but it's a significant factor.

``We can't afford the players to be dehydrated at any stage. It's a health risk but it's also a risk to performance. The fitness of this group is impressive. Their individual test results have all shown significant improvement. To a man they've worked hard.''

The only question remaining is how good England 'A' will be on the field. Depressingly, rain could still have the final answer.