England World Cup line-up has a settled look at last

After considering England's diabolical run of misfortune with injuries throughout their recent Ashes tour, it would be wise to lay a finger - perhaps a whole hand for good measure - upon the trustiest plank of timber at your disposal. Only then may you suggest that England could have a full squad to choose from when their World Cup campaign gets under way (always assuming that it does, but let's leave politics aside here) against Zimbabwe next week.

Granted, Darren Gough would certainly have been in England's final eleven had he been fit. But his absence was a foregone conclusion since before Christmas, and the sensational rise of Lancashire's Jimmy Anderson may well be a bigger plus than Gough is a minus - particularly for the future, bearing in mind that Anderson is only 20. To perform as he did in the VB series, particularly against Australia, was a sign of such potential that he is surely inked in as Andrew Caddick's new-ball partner.

Where Anderson may not quite be ready to replace Gough is "at the death". Of all the latter's dazzling qualities, this is perhaps the one that England will miss most, but their attack is one of rapidly appreciating experience. Last winter, Nasser Hussain was not afraid to bowl the youthful Andrew Flintoff in the closing overs, and Freddie is back, after the kind of lay-off from constant cricket that is sure to have recharged him. The signs are that if Caddick does bowl his ten, or nearly ten, off the reel, England will look to the experience of another Yorkshireman to fill the breach.

Craig White, another returning from injury, is the man England's coach has in mind. "He is the one we are looking at to bowl at the back end of an innings," Duncan Fletcher said. "We haven't had guys around who are experienced enough to do it, and that has been one of our major concerns."

White's all-round credentials remain strong, after consistent batting at home and abroad over the past six months. He looks a natural number eight in England's line-up, following three other all-rounders in Alec Stewart, Paul Collingwood and Flintoff himself. The trickiest question for England could be whether to include yet another, Ian Blackwell. While the more seasoned Ashley Giles is the less risky option, Blackwell has shown such control with the ball that his superior batting potential could weigh in his favour. Ronnie Irani may have to wait in the wings, alongside Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison.

"There are a few tight positions all round," Fletcher added. "At some stage you can say it's a pleasing position to be in. Sometimes it's not; you need to know who your 11 are."

At present, the batting line-up looks straightforward. Any doubts about Nick Knight after his patchy form last summer were dispelled in the VB series, in which he scored freely against both Australia and Sri Lanka, lifting his average above 41. Marcus Trescothick can be expected to open with him, in the hope of supplying much-needed early momentum.

Although he cannot boast a one-day average close to these two (watch it rise!) Michael Vaughan's Test status dictates his selection, assisted by his more-than-useful off-spin - remember the spells at Old Trafford and Adelaide? For Hussain to have Vaughan and Collingwood as bowlers six and seven would provide massively welcome variety.

Much has been made of the toughness of England's group. Pool A also includes Australia, the tournament favourites, and the team they beat in the 1999 final, Pakistan. Add India, who have tended to have the better of recent one-day encounters with England, and you sense a real tussle for the three Super Six places. Indisputably if England can get that far, anything is possible. It is equally imperative that in their first three matches - against Zimbabwe, Holland and Namibia - there are no slip-ups.