Cricket: Strauss: Time to get serious about cup; Skipper says experimenting must stop.

Byline: By MYLES HODGSON

STAND-IN captain Andrew Strauss has admitted England are running out of time for experimentation if they are to find the right formula for success in next year's World Cup.

Injuries to key personnel have forced England to make various changes this summer and give eight different players -including Jamie Dalrymple, Stuart Broad and Alastair Cook - their one-day international debuts.

But Strauss and England's management are well aware that the time for introducing new talent and blooding them at this level is fast running out with their opening match of the World Cup looming in just six months' time.

"The World Cup is not that far away now and you don't want to be experimenting too close to the World Cup," conceded Strauss.

"I think we've got a good mix between youth and experience now, which I think is important because you need that experience to go alongside the younger players -I think we've got the players, it's just a question of performing to the ability we know we have."

Current form, even without their long list of key players, suggests England are not likely to be among the leading challengers at the World Cup having lost 5-0 to Sri Lanka earlier this summer and lost Twenty20 internationals to both sets of tourists.

England at least halted their losing run on Wednesday evening when the rain washed out the opening encounter in the five-match series in Cardiff, although Pakistan looked poised to claim another victory when the weather intervened.

"We have been a little bit frustrated at the way we performed against Sri Lanka and we know that now is the time to start putting things right because the World Cup is not a long way away," said Strauss.

"Every game we play between now and then is very important and we've got four more games to go in this series and then the Champions Trophy before the real run-in to the World Cup in the West Indies. It is important we start hitting our straps soon, but all we're trying to think about is getting the processes right."

Among those "processes" has been the decision to return Strauss to the batsman's favoured opening role alongside Marcus Trescothick, as they bat together at the top of the order at Test level, after a brief spell down the order. With Ian Bell slotting in comfortably at number three, it gives England a more balanced look at the top of the order even if it does not provide the possibility for an explosive start like other countries.

DAY (11am) Liverpool Victoria County Championship - Division One (day 2 of 4) (S) Hove: Sussex v Hampshire Liverpool Victoria _ County Championship - Division One (day 3 of. 4) Blackpool: Lancashire v Warwickshire a r b o ro u g h: Yorkshire v Middlesex L Liverpool Victoria County Championship - Division Two (day 1 of i 4) (S) Grace Road: Leicestershire v. Somerset (11.30am) Liverpool Victoria County Championship - Division Two (day 3 of 4) Derby: Derbyshire v Northamptonshire The Brit Oval: Surrey v Glamorgan New Road: Worcestershire v Essex N a t West Pro40 - Division One (1 day) Riverside: Durham Dynamos v Nottinghamshire Outlaws (4.40pm).

CAPTION(S):

Andrew Strauss