10 September 2004	Friday	24 Rajab 1425

BIRMINGHAM, Sept 9: England captain Michael Vaughan insisted there would be no complacency within his side when the hosts take on struggling Zimbabwe on the opening day of the ICC Champions Trophy on Friday.

In June last year Zimbabwe beat England by four wickets in a One-day International at Trent Bridge. But since then their cricket has plummeted with 15 senior players sacked following a selection row sparked by axed captain Heath Streak's claims that some members of the team were being picked on racial grounds rather than merit.

Heavy defeats against Sri Lanka earlier this year saw Zimbabwe suspended from Test cricket and under young skipper Tatenda Taibu they lost eight straight games. But that was nothing compared to the embarrassment of a four-wicket defeat against Champions Trophy make weights the United States in a warm-up match on Wednesday.

However, Vaughan said England were treating Friday's game just like any other. "We're preparing and planning in the same fashion as we would if we were playing any side in the world," said Vaughan.

"We've got footage of them playing Australia and we'll watch that and come up with plans like we do for every player in the world." Victory over Zimbabwe would set England up for the sterner challenge of Sri Lanka at Southampton a week on Friday where a win would book an Edgbaston semifinal, possibly against world champions Australia.

And Vaughan said the compact nature of the event meant the winners did not have to be at their best for long. "There are a lot of good teams in the tournament and it's a mini-World Cup where three good wins and you're in the final.

I think most teams will all fancy their chances because it's that sort of tournament - you only have to peak for a couple of weeks and you're in a final." Zimbabwe's plight worsened on Wednesday with the news that wicket-keeper Taibu, at 21 the youngest skipper in world cricket, faced a late fitness test on Friday on a hamstring injury.

But despite the on and off-field problems confronting Zimbabwe cricket, Taibu remained upbeat about the team's long-term prospects. "Early on it was really tough, but I have learnt to deal with the guys and to go on knowing not everything is going to go the way I want it to.

"I have to give the guys time and with time I know things will be better," he added. "The good thing about the squad right now is that they are willing to work hard and back me up all the way - in two years it will be a winning team."

POOLS AND FIXTURES

POOL 'A': Australia, New Zealand, United States.

POOL 'B': Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies.

POOL 'C': India, Kenya, Pakistan.

POOL 'D': England, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe.

POOL MATCHES:

Sept 10: England v Zimbabwe (Edgbaston).

Sept 10: New Zealand v United States (The Oval).

Sept 11: India v Kenya (Rose Bowl).

Sept 12: South Africa v Bangladesh (Edgbaston).

Sept 13: Australia v United States (Rose Bowl).

Sept 14: Pakistan v Kenya (Edgbaston).

Sept 14: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (The Oval).

Sept 15: West Indies v Bangladesh (Rose Bowl).

Sept 16: Australia v New Zealand (The Oval).

Sept 17: Sri Lanka v England (Rose Bowl).

Sept 18: South Africa v West Indies (The Oval).

Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Edgbaston).

SEMIFINALS:

Sept 21: Winners of Pool 'A' v Winners of Pool 'D' (Edgbaston).

Sept 22: Winners of Pool 'B' v Winners of Pool 'C' (Rose Bowl).

FINAL:

Sept 25: The Oval.

NOTE: All ties have reserve days so if a match cannot be completed on the first day it will be carried over into the second day. Duck worth/Lewis will only come into effect if a recalculation is required on the second day. All matches start at 0915 GMT (1415 PST). -AFP