White admits to Ashes fitness problem

Craig White, the Yorkshire and England all-rounder has admitted that he was never 100% fit for the first three Ashes Tests.

White has been omitted from the England squad - along with Ian Ward of Surrey -for the Fourth npower Test, which starts at Headingley on Thursday, after a disappointing run of form.

"It's a shame that I couldn't perform as well I can but if you're not 100% fit the Australians will find you out," he told BBC Online.

"I haven't hit top form since I've come back and have only been able to operate at around 90%, which is not good enough against the Aussies."

White had developed into a pivotal member of England's Test team in the previous 18-months, but managed just one wicket and few runs in the Tests this summer as he recovered from a back injury.

"It's always hard after you've been out of cricket for a while to rediscover your form, and that's what happened with me," he explained.

But White is confident that he will be able to force his way back into the Test squad when he regains full fitness. He said, "I'll go away and seek to bowl a consistent line and length, and try to hit top gear with my pace."