Caddick to decide on future later this year

Andrew Caddick believes he will probably reach the end of the international road after he turns 35 next summer.

Caddick has led the England attack almost throughout their tour of Australia, supported by a group of largely inexperienced bowlers, and will do so again on Thursday in the first VB series final at the SCG, the ground where England last beat Australia in a one-day international four years ago.

But the fruits of success there are still fresh for Caddick to taste, after he took his first 10-wicket haul in a Test match in England's comprehensive win which prevented a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

More responsibility has come to rest on Caddick's shoulders in the absence of the injured Darren Gough, whose new-ball partnership with Caddick has been hailed as England's best since Trueman and Statham.

"Losing Goughy was certainly a bombshell as far as him not being fit," Caddick admitted. "In fact, if we had played this tour with the side we had that won in Pakistan and Sri Lanka I think we would have done very well indeed. Unfortunately we haven't."

"I still get excited about things; I am excited about this being my first World Cup, this was my first Ashes tour. But I am 35 in the summer and I can't see myself going further than that, I will decide then what I am going to do.

"I have been with England on and off for 10 years now and there comes a time when you have to start thinking of the future. It's hard work and it's just a shame the England side from two years ago has slowly been depleted."

Caddick also feels his bowling form has improved in the period since the Sydney Test, which could augur well for the first of the best-of-three one-day finals.

"I wouldn't say I am feeling great with the ball, it's just coming out alright at the moment. I am just trying to find the right area to bowl in and be very boring. I never go out to look for wickets, if wickets come along they come along.

"I didn't bowl well in Sydney, if I look deeply at it. Some days you can bowl beautifully and get one and others you can bowl dross and get 10-for. On a scale of one to 10 I probably bowled a six and in the last couple of weeks I have bowled an eight."

Caddick also believes promising youngsters like James Anderson and Steve Harmison have much to learn at the highest level.

"Potentially they are very good but there's a long road ahead. Without another experienced bowler it puts a lot more pressure on me but I have never worried about pressure. I came up against a very strong Australian side in 1993 and when you come across a side like that you are going to be found wanting."

"These guys are playing the cream of the crop as far as Test level is concerned. If they get to 75% of that they will become very good international players. So they have to strive for that extra 25%. This tour has given them a taste of what touring is about and how tough it is."

Caddick insists that with good fortune, England could yet end their 11-match run of one-day defeats at the hands of Australia.

"It seems throughout this tour we have to do all three disciplines at 100% to do well and the luck tends to be on their side all the time. When we get it we have to make sure we keep the momentum going."

England will be without the injured Steve Harmison, but Ashley Giles, who has been practicing with the ECB academy as he recovers from his broken wrist, might be considered on a spinning surface at the SCG.

For Australia, Shane Warne will have a fitness test on his right shoulder, which he dislocated on December 15, and Glenn McGrath's back will also be checked.