JAMES ANDERSON

l Born: July 30, 1982. Right-arm fast medium. Began 2002 season playing club cricket, ended it in the England World Cup squad. ODI debut: Vs Australia, Melbourne Dec 2002; 9 matches; 13 wkts at 28.69.

F Began as a medium-pacer but has increased pace. Selected for England Academy squad after just 11 first-class County championship games for Lancashire.

IAN BLACKWELL

l Born: June 10, 1978. Left-handed batsman, also bowls left-arm spin. Shares Ian Botham’s shape and batting approach, as well as the same County team but no track record yet at the top level. ODI debut: Vs Zimbabwe, Colombo, Sept. 2002, Champions Trophy; 12 matches; 214 runs; Avg 17.83; 12 wkts at 31.50.

F Switched from Derbyshire to Somerset in 2000. Quickly became a favourite at Taunton. Averaged over 50 in first-class cricket in 2001. Travelled to Australia with English Academy in October, his fitness a priority.

ANDREW CADDICK

l Born: November 21, 1968. Right-arm fast-medium bowler. Has enjoyed world-class success despite suspect temperament. ODI debut: Vs Australia, 1993; 49 matches; 61 wkts at 29.29; 58 Tests taking 234 wkts.

F Often criticised for bowling a fraction short but can be unplayable on a seaming wicket. New Zealand-born. Opted for Somerset and England after clashes with New Zealand selectors. Career highlight was in England’s historic 3-1 home win over West Indies in 2000, taking 5/16 in the 2nd Test and 5/14 in the 4th.

PAUL COLLINGWOOD

l Born: May 26, 1976. Right-hand bat, bowls right-arm medium, fine fielder. In danger of being labelled just another “bits and pieces” player not good enough for Tests. ODI debut: Vs Pakistan, Birmingham 2001; 33 matches; 737 runs; Avg 30.70; 15 wkts at 43.33.

F Took a wicket with his first ball in first-class cricket for Durham and scored 91. Struggled with step up to international level. First ODI scores were 2, 9 and a first-ball duck to Waqar Younis. Got his confidence back in England’s 5-0 win in Zimbabwe. Scored 71 in 2nd ODI against India in 2002, his third 50 in four matches. Also took 4/38 in February in Napier in the 3rd ODI versus New Zealand. Missed Champions Trophy with a neck disc problem. ANDREW FLINTOFF

l Born: December 6, 1977. All rounder — right-hand bat, right-arm medium pace. Explosive player who has attracted plaudits and ridicule in equal measure. ODI debut: Vs Pakistan, Sharjah, 1999; 47 ODIs; 37 wkts at 30.35; 863 runs at 23.97; Also 21 Tests, one century.

F Nicknamed ‘Freddy’ (Flintstone). Attacking player. Touted as the next Ian Botham early in his career. Despite the occasional batting fireworks his statistics remain modest. Plagued by back problems, weighed in at 114 kg, more than world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis. Averaged over 50 in ODI series in Zimbabwe in Oct. 2001. First Test century in 2002 versus New Zealand off 114 balls. Next Test hit 33-ball 50, at time fifth fastest in history.

ASHLEY GILES

l Born: March 19, 1973. Left-arm spinner. Steady player who has earned more headlines because of injuries than match-winning performances. ODI debut: Vs Australia, The Oval, 1997; 22 matches; 22 wkts at 37.45; Also 19 Tests; 55 wkts.

F High action, useful lower-order bat. Pace bowler as a teenager until back trouble. First called into England ODI squad at the end of 1997 but real breakthrough came in 2000-1 Test tour to Pakistan, with 17 wickets. Hampered since 2001 by Achilles problems. Barely fit, toured India and took 5/67 in the second Test in Ahmedabad. Criticised for bowling outside the leg stump to stifle Sachin Tendulkar (still became first man to have Tendulkar stumped in Tests).

STEVE HARMISON

l Born: October 23, 1978. Fast bowler. Excellent pace and steepling bounce. ODI debut: Vs Sri Lanka, Brisbane, Dec 2002; 5 matches; 5 wkts at 45.60; 5 Tests; 14 wkts at 41.07.

F County debut for Durham 1996. Selected for England A tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa. Ashes 2002, Melbourne Test 1st inns 93.5mph delivery, quickest ever timed in a Test by an England bowler.

MATTHEW HOGGARD

l Born: December 31, 1976. Right-arm fast medium bowler. Good seamer and swinger of the ball. ODI debut: Vs Zimbabwe, Harare, Oct 2001; 27 wkts at 30.25; 18 tests; 66 wkts; Avg 34.25.

F Yorkshireman, made county debut aged 19 in 1996, becoming a regular four years later. Gained valuable South African experience with Free State in 1998-99. Broke into England team in 2001-2. With Darren Gough and Andy Caddick not touring, led attack in India and topped the wicket-taking. March 2002, took 7/63 Test best as New Zealand were bowled out for 147 in 1st Test. Ended with 17 wickets at 23.64.

NASSER HUSSAIN

l Born: March 28, 1968, Chennai. Captain. Right-hand batsman. ODI debut: Vs Pakistan, Oct. 1989. 84 ODIs; 2,308 runs at 31.18; 81 Tests; 4,866 runs; Avg 37.14.

F Known as firebrand when young but now regarded as an astute leader. More effective in Tests than one-dayers. Did not fully establish himself in England team until six years after debut, making successive Test centuries versus India. Left out of 1999 World Cup squad, recalled as injury cover and ended top of the team averages. Succeeded Alec Stewart as captain. Teamed up with coach Duncan Fletcher to lift England off the bottom of the Test rankings with successive series wins over Zimbabwe, West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Has failed to match that success in one-dayers.

RONNIE IRANI

l Born: October 26, 1971. One-day all rounder — right-hand bat, right-arm medium. ODI debut: Vs India, The Oval, 1996; 29 ODIs; 348 runs at 15.13; highest score 53; 21 wkts at 44.33; 3 Tests.

F Unable to hold down first-team place with native Lancashire, moved to Essex in 1994. In 2002 became Essex captain, putting him in charge of England captain Nasser Hussain. Only international highlight came with first England half-century and 5/26 versus India in a one-dayer in July. Took 4/37 in the Champions Trophy in September.

NICK KNIGHT

l Born: November 28, 1969. Left-hand batsman. Highest one-day average in England side but regarded as too loose technically for Tests. ODI debut: Vs Pakistan, Manchester, Aug. 1996; 95 ODIs; Avg 41.89; 5 centuries; 24 fifties; 17 Tests; Avg 23.96.

F Started career at Essex before moving to Warwickshire in 1995. Successive ODI centuries versus Pakistan in 1996 and 96 off 117 balls in inaugural Test versus Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Averaged over 100 in 2001 one-dayers in Zimbabwe and hit a century in the drawn one-day series in India in 2002.

ALEC STEWART

l Born: April 8 1963. Wicketkeeper/all rounder — right-hand bat. sure to be remembered as an England great. Will be 40 shortly after tournament. ODI debut: Vs India, Delhi, Oct 1989; ODIs 165; 4,541 runs at 31.53; four hundreds; 27 fifties; 126 Tests; 8,187 runs; Avg 40.13; 15 hundreds.

F Son of Mickey Stewart, former England player and manager Career highlight 1993-4 in Barbados as first Englishman to score a century in each innings versus West Indies. 1998, aged 35, became England captain but sacked after 1999 World Cup failure. Lost England place and central contract after opting not to tour India in 2001-2. Recalled when James Foster was injured. Cemented comeback with a Test century v Sri Lanka.

MARCUS TRESCOTHICK

l Born: December 25, 1975. Left-hand bat, occasional right-arm medium pace. ODI strike rate of 87.95.

ODI debut: Vs Zimbabwe, The Oval, July 2000; 56 ODIs; 2,045 runs; Avg 37.18; four hundreds; 31 Test; 2,213 runs at 40.23; three hundreds.

F Touted as future England captain. Jan. 2002, century in 1st ODI versus India, then 95 off 80 balls as England levelled series 3-3. 82 off 60 at Headingley in July versus Sri Lanka in a triangular game and in the final at Lord’s versus India 109 off 100 balls.

MICHAEL VAUGHAN

l Born: October 29, 1974. Right-hand bat, occasional off-spinner. Most prolific Test batsman in the world in 2002 but still all to prove in one-dayers. ODI debut: Vs Sri Lanka, Dambulla, March 2001; 425 runs at 22.36; no hundreds but at a healthy strike rate of 73.52; 28 Tests; 2,343 runs at 50.93; 8 hundreds.

F Born in Lancashire, plays for Yorkshire. Began in middle order before moving to Test opener. Normally at four in ODIs. Made history in India when became seventh batsman in Test history to be given out handled the ball.

CRAIG WHITE

l Born: December 16, 1969. All rounder — right-hand bat, right-arm fast medium bowler. Blacked out and collapsed in 2000, cause never discovered. ODI debut: Vs Australia, Sydney, Dec. 1994; 46 ODIs; Avg 14.81; 56 wkts at 27.62; 30 Tests; 1,052 runs; Avg 24.46; 59 wkts at 37.62.

F Born in Yorkshire, raised in Australia. Ability to reverse swing. Once genuinely fast, with an action reminiscent of Jeff Thomson, but has lost pace. Began career as off-spinning all rounder. August 2000, Test best 5/32 in versus West Indies at The Oval, also bowling Brian Lara leg stump for his first golden duck in 70 Tests.