3rd ODI, Napier
Wednesday, February 20, 2002

I'm happier with our performance today but, as I keep saying, it's just one game. We're not suddenly worldbeaters - just like we weren't suddenly the worst one-day side in the world after Wellington. We're the same bunch of lads. But it is nice to prove a few people wrong.

We wanted to keep the same XI for today. I think for a series that's poised at 2-1 you can have too much chopping and changing. It would have been easy to wield the axe, but people don't become bad players overnight, and Duncan and I wanted to give everyone a chance to prove themselves.

The overhead conditions really helped the ball to swing today, especially for Paul Collingwood. Early on when Chalky White was bowling, he came up to me and said: "I think Colly will swing it here." Whether it was being so close to the sea and the atmosphere being damper, I don't know to be honest. But Colly bowled well - he struggled a bit against the left-handers, but against the right-handers he was spot on.

Our batting was much better today. All winter we've gone beyond our expectations in the first 30 overs, and then fallen away towards the end of the innings. The only time we really messed up early on in our batting was at Wellington. But today, Graham Thorpe played perfectly in those last 20 overs to see us up to 244. For him to get a run-a-ball fifty on not that good a batting pitch was magnificent. Nick (Knight) and Marcus (Trescothick) played well too, but I'm used to us getting good starts now. It's the final overs that have been the problem.

Marcus did a good job keeping today, but it's just an option. I'm anti the idea of trying to turn him into a wicketkeeper-batsman. Jamie Foster is going to have a key role in England's future, both in Tests and one-dayers. He's a young lad and we just wanted to give him a rest. That will be reviewed every game. And I don't want to overburden Marcus - he's a very important batsman for us. It gives us an alternative, but that's all.

As for me, my arm is fine after getting hit - nothing to worry about. It was a little sore in the field, when I was in mid-air I knew it was going to hurt when I hit the ground. But it looks like my arm is made of tougher stuff than my fingers!

Obviously we were a bit down after Wellington. It was a dreadful day, and I just needed to know from the boys why we were so flat. It was the first time I noticed we were quiet out on the field. We lacked energy and drive. Maybe we were tired, or maybe it was to do with the difference from India. It can be more intimidating in New Zealand - which might surprise a few people. Here the crowd are right on top of you - also you can understand what they're saying.

I didn't really give the boys a rollicking after the other day. We had an open chat afterwards, a few suggestions were made as to how we could get more energy, and today it all went well. But it is only one day. New Zealand will now up themselves 20 percent for the next match and if we don't raise our levels we'll get beaten again. So we need to keep on lifting our game, like we did today.

Nasser Hussain was talking to Camilla Rossiter. His thoughts appear on Wisden.com, other duties permitting, at the end of each international that England play.

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