Gooch scratches his head after being clobbered for six

But one statistic that Hussain may be eyeing is Ramprakash's bowling figures in domestic one-day cricket.

With 36 wickets at 28.50 apiece, and an economy rate of 4.48, there is some evidence that he is a handy contributor with the ball.

But there is another issue which may stop Hussain booking Ramprakash in to bowl the middle overs on those good South African wickets in 2003.

Three lost finals

England have suffered some heartache in previous World Cups - losing in three finals out of the seven tournaments that have been played.

In the first of those, in 1979, Graham Gooch, Geoff Boycott and Wayne Larkins were called upon to bowl 12 overs between them, making up the fifth bowler.

But Viv Richards and Collis King had the bit between their teeth on a good track at Lord's and those 12 overs cost a hefty 86.

Ramprakash - three wickets in Harare, but may struggle in the World Cup

The second of England's losing finals was in 1987 against Australia at Eden Gardens, Calcutta.

Gooch - whose medium-paced outswingers were often fairly handy as partnership breakers in Test cricket - was again called up to bowl.

He was not exactly punished, bowling eight overs for 42 and grabbing a wicket, but he was hardly likely to turn the match in England's favour.

The Essex man then skippered England's 1992 team, which also reached the final, but this time was able to choose who bowled. He did not bowl himself.

Graeme Hick was used in that tournament, and again in 1996 and 1999.

In those three World Cups, Hick bowled a total of 35 overs for 208 runs, taking just five wickets, with an economy rate of very nearly six an over.

Nasser, be warned...