1st ODI, Trent Bridge
Thursday, June 27, 2002

The build-up to this NatWest series didn't go quite as planned, but on the day we batted well, fielded well, and got ourselves off to a good start, so I'm very pleased. It doesn't change what I said to the board beforehand – we do need contracts for the one-day game as well as the Test side, as three days' preparation before a three-week tournament is simply not enough. These guys need looking after if they are to perform on a regular basis.

There was a lot of press speculation before the game, and most people had assumed that Alex Tudor would play in this match. But he wasn't actually in the frame – Tudes hasn't played a one-day international yet, and as we were already without Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick I preferred to show faith with the guys who saw us through the winter. Having said that, he might well get a look-in in the next game.

Freddie Flintoff stole the show again, but it was a real team performance from the batters. His game was nicely set up by the partnerships that we put together – myself and Thorpe, and then, especially, Irani and Stewart. That one was the clincher.

There are a lot of pundits in this game, with a lot of views on Freddie's role in the side. People will point to what he did today and argue that if he went in at one-down he'd end up 250 not out. But we know what a valuable commodity Freddie is – there is no point in feeding him to the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shaun Pollock, Shoaib Akhtar and Jason Gillespie, and risk losing him for next to nothing. There would then be nobody left to come in at the death and bully the soft white ball to the ropes.

His bowling, as well, continues to improve. He gets a handy amount of reverse swing from the white ball, but he is still a bit raw and sends down a few too many four-balls for my liking. But he's not the only one – I have to admit, we do miss the experience of Gough and Caddick. James Kirtley, though, stepped into Goughie's shoes admirably. He's a fine bowler at either end of the innings, and with those slower balls and yorkers he's a real handful.

Our fielding today was exceptional, and that always helps to lift the bowlers. I have to admit, we're not the most mobile of units, but we kept on our toes throughout and picked up three blinders.

My catch to get rid of Jayasuriya was pure reaction, and a big turning point in the game, as we all know what he's capable of in one-dayers. But at short-cover you're always in the game against him, as he has a tendency to hit through the ball and it's often in the air for a while. I knew a chance might come my way - after that it was just a matter of clinging on.

Nasser Hussain was talking to Andrew Miller. His thoughts will appear on Wisden.com, other duties permitting, at the end of each day of England's international cricket this summer.

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