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The moment before the curtain goes up is always a fraught one for performers, even the most experienced; particularly the most experienced. No less a trouper than Dame Peggy Ashcroft, the darling of the classical theatre, used to stand behind the curtain on opening nights, just before it was about to go up, shake her fists at the audience, and swear loudly in defiance.

She was saying, effectively, ``You are forcing me to go through with all this again, you ungrateful swine''. But go through with it she did, because that's what troupers do. The thrill, and the trick, is making sure that the audience can't smell the fear. That goes for all performers, be they mummers, clowns or just plain cricketers - and some would say this England team is very plain indeed.

So when David Lloyd, their coach, declares that the players are feeling pretty relaxed about the warming-up process for the World Cup, which starts today with a match against a full-strength Kent team at Canterbury, he is speaking no less than the truth. ``The players are ready,'' he said. Fine. But ready for what?

They looked very relaxed yesterday, as they simulated match conditions during a session in the middle, but there should be a bit of tension there, too. The players are about to begin one of the most stimulating months of their careers, and realisation of that ought to leave a knot in some stomachs.

This is a crucial period for everybody involved with the England team, and the real business starts this morning. By this time next week they will have to send out a team to face the World Cup holders, Sri Lanka, in the first match of the competition, and it will be too late by then for excuses or regrets.

They must make a bold impression as soon as possible, to maintain the spirit of amity within the dressing-room, and to hold the interest of all those people, cricket-lovers or not, who are slowly becoming more aware that a World Cup is about to take place, and thinking: ``By Jove, it could be rather good. I wonder how England will get on?''

For Lloyd, who leaves his post at the end of the tournament, it is a chance to go with his reputation enhanced. As England have lost seven of their last eight one-day matches, he has plenty of scope. Even though he cannot bat or bowl, he can oversee the campaign as rigorously as any general. For those who do play there is glory to be found, the more so as nobody, except the most cock-eyed optimist, expects them to achieve much.

That is why the fining of Graham Thorpe, for not attending a reception for Kent members on Wednesday, served the useful purpose of concentrating minds. The Canterbury shindig was, if truth be known, precisely the kind of thing players prefer to avoid and David Graveney, the team manager, handled the matter with a commendably light touch. There was little point in berating Thorpe. His was the most minor of indiscretions.

It is the form of his Surrey team-mate, Alec Stewart, that is causing greater concern. For a whole year now Stewart has been captain, front-line batsman and, for most of the time, wicketkeeper. At 36 he is no longer a young man, and Lloyd would be fibbing if he said that his leader's lack of form was not a source of worry.

Naturally, he chose to express it differently. ``One of the joys of the job is showing courage, patience and support for a player, and then seeing him come out of it.'' It has not quite reached the stage when Stewart must make runs to retain his place, but an innings of significance in the next week will reassure him, and others, that his appetite remains undiminished.

Kent are taking this game seriously. ``Heck, yes,'' said Matthew Fleming, their captain. ``We want to win it.'' Only 18 months ago Fleming belonged to an England one-day side that won a trophy in Sharjah, as did Dean Headley, who has also been stripped of rank. Mark Ealham, who has retained his membership of the one-day party, reverts to county status for the day.

``It allows us to give another player a chance,'' said Lloyd, who added that the England management had made a ``polite request'' to Kent that Ealham bats at No 7 and bowls as he would for England, coming on as first change, for the 12th over or thereabouts.

Ealham's absence opens the door ever so slightly for Adam Hollioake, whose rise to prominence two years ago has found a mirror image in his subsequent neglect. Captain of the one-day team, and a convincing one, when England won in Sharjah, he has been demoted to the ranks, behind Ealham as an all-rounder, and also behind Andrew Flintoff.

``We all want to get off to a good start,'' said Lloyd, echoing the words that will resound round 11 other dressing-rooms in the coming week. If he wanted a suitable text to furnish them he could always go to another grand old trouper, Noel Coward: ``We're asked to console with each tremulous soul who steps out to be loudly applauded. Stars on opening nights weep when they see their names in lights.''

The stage awaits Team England. Please, no tears.

Fixtures

WORLD CUP WARM-UP MATCHES (10.45)- Canterbury: Kent v England. Leicester: Leics v India. Northampton: Northants v Sri Lanka. Taunton: Somerset v Kenya. Hove: Sussex v S Africa. Worcester: Worcs v Zimbabwe.