Talk is cheap: Hussain

England cricket captain Nasser Hussain will tell his new-look side that it is time to stop talking and start playing when they take on Zimbabwe in the first of five one-day internationals on Wednesday.

"We are trying to create a new culture of fitness, attitude, fielding and talking about the game and understanding more about it," Hussain said.

"We've had a lot of discussions but talk is cheap and we have to put it into practice, which we haven't done for a while in one-day cricket."

England, whilst improving at test level, have lost 11 one-dayers in a row. They name their side late on Tuesday, with Hussain saying there could be four or five new caps after a string of young players were included in an experimental tour party.

Hussain, clearly keen to get back on the pitch, added: "This is just talk and is all drivel really, but we are trying to draw a line under last summer and that poor performance and now start something new for the next 16-18 months and beyond that.

"The World Cup comes after that and the only basic thing that will keep the plan going is winning, everything else is irrelevant."

Zimbabwe have just lost a one-day series 3-0 against South Africa, but Hussain expects them to be difficult to beat.

"It will be difficult here and the cricket will be turgid," Hussain said. "The wickets are slow and we'll have to adapt better than the first time when we were out here in 1996."

England warmed up by beating Zimbabwe A by 138 runs in their tour opener on Monday.

Mail Cricket Editor