Chris Adams Photo CricInfo

At the end of the one-day series against New Zealand, England captain Nasser Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher said they were looking for batsmen in the side to score hundreds. It would also be a bonus if they could get them fairly quickly.

There is no doubt that there have been significant advances over the winter of one-dayers, but if England are to mount a serious challenge for the World Cup itself in South Africa next year, there are still areas where improvement is needed.

The captain said as much at the end of the final match of the series with New Zealand in Dunedin. "You saw Nathan Astle today, there was a lot of sixes hit and you watch a series from Australia, people like Brett Lee, various people, hitting sixes and it's an area we haven't quite mastered yet. It's a technical thing, it's a confidence thing.

"There's a lot of areas we have improved on. That's another area we've just gone and identified. I don't mean slogging the ball for six when you've got to take the risk and every time this winter when we've just tried to progress and take the risk, we've found ourselves losing wickets and that's something we're going to have to look at."

There is a man sitting back home who would like to offer himself as the answer to some of England's problems. Sussex captain Chris Adams had a brief opportunity when in South Africa in the winter of 1999/2000, but things did not go well for him then.

He admits that he had a severe working over in that Test series, but he only played in two of the one-day internationals on that trip and top-scored in one of those. He was omitted from the side and had to return home because of his daughter's ill health, and appears to have been the forgotten man ever since.

If England do need batsmen to score hundreds, and to score them quickly making use of the boundaries, Adams reckons he could be the man. "I have looked at the statistics and I have got 16 one-day hundreds which is almost as many as England's top four batsmen combined.

"I averaged 42 in all one-day cricket last season, and I do tend to score my runs quickly," he added. "My natural position is three - a position that seems to be attracting a lot of attention. It doesn't help that that is the captain's spot, but I firmly believe there is a place for another batsman in the side, and that's probably at the expense of one of the all-rounders.

"I think that England are a batsman light and they should be bringing the all-rounders like Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff down the order to seven and eight as opposed to six and seven. Australia are fortunate in that they have their wicket-keeper as a genuine all-rounder opening the innings and then they bat all the way down to seven before the other all-rounders come in. I have seen Darren Lehmann coming in at eight and then bowling his little dobbers."

Adams can see a role for himself there, not overlooking the contribution he could make as a bowler. "I think I'm improving all the time with the ball, and have done a lot of work this winter on my bowling. I did finish top of the first-class averages last year, albeit with only 10 wickets, and was quoted as being the best all-round cricketer in the country as regards runs, wickets and catches in "The Cricketer" magazine.

"Now I'm making a plea to the management and selectors not to overlook me and consider me for this summer so it gives me the chance to stake a claim for the World Cup."

He does seem to have a case. After averaging well over 50 in first-class cricket last season, he needs another good start in 2002, prove that his bowling has come on as he claims, and force his way back into contention for the very best of reasons – weight of performance. It is amazing how runs and wickets can nudge a selector's memory.

© CricInfo