It's crucial to my season and with the World Cup only twenty months away

Knight on Thursday's game

Knight: "The selectors will be starting to formulate ideas on a squad"

Knight however, should relish facing Pakistan, whom he memorably flayed for successive one day centuries during their 1996 tour.

However as England's squad contains four openers, expediency may see him batting at six or seven.

Knight admits that is a very different role.

"I'm used to doing it in Tests so it doesn't bother me but you do need to reassess your batting strategy as the game progresses, both in the Pavilion and in the middle," he said.

"But I don't sit watching every ball because you can get mesmerised by it and I need to relax before I bat.

"I don't mind whether I'm setting a target or chasing one, but it's a position that requires adaptability and the need to react sometimes ball by ball as wickets fall."

Twilight factor

And does playing under lights adds yet another dimension?

"It being June and with a 14:30 start the first innings shouldn't be affected," he said.

"But we do get extended twilight in England so it's a factor, particularly for a new batsman, though less so for the fielding side, who are out there the whole time."

Stewart's complaints about inadequate floodlighting at last season's Edgbaston one day international against Zimbabwe have resulted in the number of pylons increasing from six to eight.

However Knight recognises that England's opponents would be tough in any form of the game.

"They're two very strong sides but we remain confident," he said, "despite losing the Second Test to Pakistan."