Selectors face embarrassment of riches

England face a selection problem now that Nasser Hussain has declared himself to be fit for tomorrow's match against Zimbabwe at Birmingham in the NatWest series. He is available for the first time since damaging his thumb in a match for Essex in the National League on 24 June.

Since he has been away Alec Stewart and Marcus Trescothick have formed an exciting and successful first-wicket partnership. Nick Knight, who opened with Hussain during the winter, has also recovered from a fractured finger injury.

Alec Stewart is inclined to keep the pairing of himself and Trescothick and for Nasser to bat lower in the order. Hussain has expressed himself to keen to get out into the "middle" again.

The selectors will give much thought to whom should be left out of the batting-order and to the question of whether it is now appropriate to give youngsters Paul Franks and Vikram Solanki their first game in the competition.