England v Zimbabwe
ICC Champions Trophy
Wednesday, September 18, 2002

That was quite a contrast to The Oval! No amount of conditioning could prepare us for the heat out there. There's been a bit of cloud cover on the previous couple of days, but today was seriously hot and you could feel your skin burning, no matter how much sunblock we used. But it was a very professional performance today – we adapted quickly and well.

As for Marcus Trescothick – he's just carried on his form from the NatWest Series. That's back-to-back centuries for him now, and in fact today's game was much like the final at Lord's. We lost an early wicket, but then Tres and I came together and picked it up. If we were being hypercritical, then perhaps we could say we fell about 20 runs short after the start we got, but that was mainly down to fatigue and heat exhaustion.

We knew we couldn't run them ragged in the field, so we had to turn down the odd single here and there, and that was something we'd anticipated in our planning and discussed in our meetings before the match. But to fall two runs short of 300 is not the end of the world.

Marcus is clearly over his injury now. Once the break is healed, the rest of it is purely psychological, and he's never had problems in that department. But it's great that world cricket is having to sit up and take notice of the likes of him and Michael Vaughan. They can take a great deal of credit for it, and Duncan Fletcher deserves a lot of praise as well.

Nick Knight is having a rough trot, though, which is peculiar because his form in county cricket this summer, where he's averaged close to 100, has been second to none. He knows he needs runs, and we need him to get runs as well, because he's a class one-day player and one of our best catchers and fielders. We're backing him for the moment, and I'm sure he'll get through.

It was Matthew Hoggard's bowling with the white ball in one-day cricket that originally earned him his England place, so I was delighted with his efforts. He's a fine bowler when it's swinging, and he used the conditions beautifully today. That was the main reason we batted first, so that we could set to work under the lights in the evening, when it was cooler – but only a little bit cooler, mind!

We set attacking fields, and Hoggy was able to bowl his ten overs on the bounce, though he was pretty exhausted by the end. I doubt he'll be keeping those trousers though! He was absolutely soaked through by the end, and that huge rip in the knee will need a magical repair before the next game. I'm sure he'll be finding himself a new pair.

I was pleased with Ian Blackwell's efforts on debut. He came out to bat at a difficult time, when we'd lost a few wickets, and knocked it around well for his 17. And it wasn't a particularly easy time to bowl either. I hoped he'd pick up a wicket, but it was good that he got a few overs under his belt ahead of the India game. It's at the same ground so he'll be used to the conditions by now. Streaky [Heath Streak] hit him for a couple of sixes, but he'll be pleased with his efforts – it's a good start.

I back the ICC for trying out a few new things in this tournament, as it's about time we found out whether technology can be used to help decision-making. I've stated since arriving here, that personally, as one of the captains, I would like to see more technology used.

There was some confusion today, maybe, but that's because they haven't gone the whole way. If an umpire knows a decision is in or out, then he should give it as such, but if he's at all unsure, then all he has to do is ask. They mustn't just use the technology to decide one thing or another, like did it pitch outside leg. Still, I'm pleased they're trying, and let's make our minds up at the end of the tournament.

Nasser Hussain was talking to Andrew Miller. His thoughts will appear on Wisden.com, other duties permitting, at the end of each day of England's international cricket this summer.

More Nasser Hussain
A whole two days off (Oval Test)

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