England bid to stop the slide

England go into tomorrow's penultimate NatWest Series match against New Zealand in danger of heading even further down the world one-day rankings.

Having started the summer in sixth place, the only way for Paul Collingwood's side appeared to be up. But defeat at The Oval and another at Lord's on Saturday will see them fall to seventh, which would be highly embarrassing after all the talk of improvements.

According to the results of a Professional Cricketers' Association survey, four out of five players in the English game believe 50-over internationals are still important, despite all the money pouring into Twenty20.

But Collingwood's team, beaten 3-1 in New Zealand three months ago, are struggling to make progress and were pegged back to 1-1 by the Kiwis on Saturday.

Now Ravi Bopara, given a chance at No4, Owais Shah, at No6, and keeper Tim Ambrose will be under extra pressure.

Bopara has totalled only 41 runs in his three innings so far this series; Shah was part of a middle-order collapse in Bristol and Ambrose, who dropped a catch on Saturday, has done little with the bat to justify his inclusion.

The NatWest Roadshow is at London's Broadgate Arena today, from 9am to 6pm, and any budding bowler who hits the stumps will be entered into a draw for a pair of tickets to both The Oval and Lord's.