Zimbabwe will not gamble on the fitness of captain Heath Streak in the run-up to the first Test against England.

Streak is Zimbabwe's senior bowler Worcs v Zimbabwe scorecard Match report

Streak was only able to bowl two overs during their tied game with Worcestershire at New Road, but batted with a runner on the final day.

They have one more warm-up game against Sussex before the Test match at Lord's but he will sit out the game unless team officials are 100 per cent confident about his fitness.

"Heath was moving pretty smoothly out there but we will have to monitor him over the next few days to see whether he will be able to play against Sussex later this week.

"We'd like him to have another game but we won't be taking any risks with him," said coach Geoff Marsh.

Streak is one of only two players - Grant Flower being the other - who have played more than 50 Tests and his experience is crucial to their chances of competing with England.

Marsh acknowledged that more runs were needed from their top six batsmen but tried to focus on the positves to come out of the game against Worcestershire.

"We'd have like to have won the game with one run needed and two wickets left, but the wicket was such that you were never really in on it.

"It was a good practice match for us and today was especially good because we were under pressure all the time, which is good preparation for a Test match.

"It was a hard work-out for us all-round."