England prepare for the first match of their one-day series in Zimbabwe tomorrow buoyed up by the impressive return of Graham Thorpe after he was out of action for most of the summer.

Added late to the 16-man squad after the withdrawal of Craig White with a knee injury, Thorpe was expected gently to ease his way back into cricket on this tour, in preparation for the sterner Test series in India next month.

But in his first competitive innings since July, Thorpe responded to another England batting collapse with a superb 95 in yesterday's 138-run victory over Zimbabwe A.

After England's depressing run of 11 successive one-day defeats, Thorpe's innings was exactly what they needed as they begin their build-up for the World Cup in South Africa in 2003.

Tomorrow they meet a Zimbabwe side which has suffered seven successive defeats, and not won a game since last February.

"I really enjoyed it out there," Thorpe said.

"It was just what I needed. It was a really hard work-out for me and I'm glad I've come through it. I've got a few aches and pains, but nothing you wouldn't expect from my first game of cricket in quite a few months."

Thorpe rescued England from a parlous 61 for five, in a 158-run stand with Ben Hollioake which lasted 29 overs, enabling them reach 262 for eight before Zimbabwe A slumped to 124 all out in reply.

Hollioake's knock will also have pleased England's management, after he impressed during England's wretched triangular series against Pakistan and Australia. He contributed 61, along with a tidy bowling performance.

"Ben played very well and without that contribution we'd have really struggled to put a competitive score on the board, so all in all it's been a pretty good work-out for us," said Thorpe.

"We had a bit of a fright early on and then Ben and myself were able to rebuild it. To bat for 45 overs in a competitive nature has been really pleasing.

"It was pleasing more than anything that I didn't try and do anything too extravagant and my normal one-day game plans were all there.

"The mind was working well and it was good to see Ben playing so well in the partnership because he's a big part of our one-day plans."

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