Round two for new-look Hollioake

MELBOURNE, Dec 14 AAP - Injury has given a chance to many of England's touring team. Death has given Adam Hollioake a new outlook on cricket and life.

Hollioake is the latest addition to England's tri-series squad after fellow allrounder Andrew Flintoff failed to recover from a hernia and became the latest player sent home because of injury.

Tomorrow's day-night clash against Australia at the MCG represents Hollioake's first match for England in more than three years.

But it was the death of his brother Ben - in a car accident in Perth in March - that ultimately gave Adam the spur to take a new approach on his game and attitude.

Adam Hollioake, having played 35 limited overs matches for England, including 14 as captain from 1996-99, today described his recall as round two in his career.

The 31-year-old said after years of fretting about his position in the team, he was now completely at ease and had nothing to fear.

"I have absolutely no fear of failure whatsoever," Hollioake said.

"To me it's just a game.

"Before I used to worry about what the down side of not playing well was ... but now I don't worry about it at all because I realise the sun will still come up tomorrow morning and whatever will be, will be.

"So I just go out there and play and if I get nought for 100 and a duck well so be it, that's life. I'm not going to lose one minute's sleep.

"It doesn't mean I won't be trying my best and if I have success it still doesn't change anything either, I just get on and play the game and try and enjoy it."

Hollioake last played for England in the 1999 World Cup, against India in Edgbaston.

After sitting out the first stages of this year's county season in England, the Australian-born allrounder spearheaded Surrey to the championship.

His batting and bowling skills haven't gone unnoticed, given England's current plight.

Hollioake said he had resorted to his natural attacking game since Ben's death.

He said this change in attitude differed from when he first arrived on the international scene and "swung from my arse", but gradually evolved into a continued defensive mode.

"As time goes on you don't want to lose what you've already got I suppose," Hollioake said of the worries of keeping his place.

"But as I sit here now I've got nothing, so I've got nothing to lose and there's nothing more dangerous than a man with nothing to lose."

Hollioake, who plans to complete a four-leg walk, row and bicycle expedition from the Scottish border to Tangiers next October to raise money for ill children, said he had adapted his new approach with cricket to life as well.

"I just try and enjoy each moment as it comes along and see what happens - try and enjoy every minute as I go along because who knows what's going to happen?" he said.

England played a light game of soccer today and is likely to announce its team tomorrow.