By Ben Kunicki BBC Sport Online

Graham Thorpe's retirement from one-day internationals is a setback to England's planning for the 2003 World Cup.

The Surrey left-hander was England's most experienced batsman behind Alec Stewart and Nick Knight and his ability to maintain the tempo of an innings during the middle overs was invaluable.

Thorpe quits one-dayers

Thorpe's departure leaves room in the squad for at least one more batsman, whose first task will be to help the squad win the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.

Experience rewarded

After a period of experimentation the England selectors have once again reverted to type in Test cricket this summer, hedging their bets with tried and tested picks such as John Crawley and Dominic Cork.

If such a policy were continued in the one-day game then two Surrey men could get their chance.

Mark Butcher has been talked about a lot this season as a possible replacement for out-of-form Nick Knight.

However, the left-hander has only played three one-day matches this year, averaging a moderate 38.

His career record is not much more striking, having only passed fifty 17 times in 131 innings of domestic one-day cricket and failing to make a single century.

His Surrey colleague Ali Brown has a much more positive one-day pedigree having struck a dramatic world record 268 in the C&G Trophy against Glamorgan in June.

Brown broke the world record for a one-day innings

The powerful stroke-maker was used as a pinch-hitter by England in the past and appeared at times to be trying too hard to force the pace.

He last appeared down the order in the disastrous NatWest Series campaign against Australia and Pakistan last year, making a top-score of 12 in three innings.

The name on most people's lips, especially after his cool-headed performance in the B&H Cup final, is Ian Bell.

The Warwickshire youngster has long been touted as a potential Test player yet his prowess in the shorter form of the game has been largely ignored.

Single ability

Bell averages 42 in domestic one-day cricket this year and played several important innings for Warwickshire on their way to their B&H triumph.

Although Bell is not the most rapid of scorers he does have the ability to take the singles and keep the innings ticking over in a similar way to Thorpe.

His Gold Award winning performance was more circumspect than the innings of Jim Troughton, in the partnership that turned the match, but it was Bell who was there to close out the victory.

Other young pretenders include Owais Shah who has been neglected by the selectors since top-scoring for England during the final match of the series against New Zealand in March.

Shah's form in the longer form of the game has been more impressive than in the shorter this season, but as a player whose potential was recognised by England he deserves a chance to prove it.

Key was one of the successes of the Academy

If England intend to bring a completely new face into the set-up then Rob Key is as prominent as most.

The Kent opener is third in the one-day run list this season behind Nasser Hussain and Brown with an average of 46.

Key, who was one of the successes of the first England Academy during the winter has passed 50 on eight occasions this season, including a century against Nottinghamshire.

Craig White's return to form with the ball for Yorkshire may push him back in the frame.

With Paul Collingwood more of a batsman than a bowler, it could be that White may be considered for an allrounder's role with Collingwood pushed up the order if necessary.

Finally, Duncan Fletcher could be tempted to turn to his fellow Zimbabwean Graeme Hick, to replace experience with experience.

The Worcestershire captain reiterated his desire to return to the ranks at the beginning of the season and is averaging 42 in domestic one-dayers after a slow start.

He remains the greatest enigma of his generation but the possibility of him strolling out of the pavilion for England first World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Harare, is one that cannot be discounted.