England have named their side for tomorrow's one-day international against India ready to embark on a two-month trial of their limited-over capabilities.

A a squad mostly unchanged from the one-day games against West Indies contest a seven-match NatWest one-day series against India, the ICC World Twenty20 tournament and a one-day series in Sri Lanka.

The schedule should provide England's selectors with a definitive view on several members of the squad as they build-up to next year's ICC Champions Trophy and the 2011 World Cup in Asia.

Paul Collingwood, the captain, believes it is an excellent opportunity for this squad to mature together. He said: "When I took over before the West Indies series I said the approach was going to be one of the major things and, when you talk about approach and intent, these things get filtered in slowly.

"These aren't things that happen overnight and players can all of a sudden go out there and be world-beaters. These skills we are learning every day in practice and they gradually get filtered into the players.

"Hopefully this two-month period is the perfect time as a one-day side to keep improving and that's what we're looking to do. We realise we have to improve as a one-day side."

England enter this series with only four minnows - Bangladesh, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Kenya - below them in the ICC's one-day rankings, having won only two of their last eight matches against top-class opposition.

Collingwood will be helped by the return of Andrew Flintoff and Ravi Bopara, who both missed the West Indies series with injury. Flintoff will be returned to his usual role at number six, allowing Collingwood to move to his favoured position at five having batted a place lower against West Indies.

Matt Prior, the wicketkeeper-batsman, will continue to open the innings and faces a test of character after the criticism he suffered during the Test series against India.

India have strengthened their squad since then by drafting in seamer Munaf Patel, hard-hitting batsman Robin Uthappa and all-rounder Ajit Agarkar.

Collingwood admitted his side face a difficult task against India: "If you look at the ICC rankings they are certainly up there with the best. They will go into the series as favourites but we're confident we've got the players in our side that if we click on our day that we can beat the best in the world."

One player who won't feature for England tomorrow is Ryan Sidebottom, who has been ruled out by an ongoing side injury.

Teams for the opening match of the NatWest Series between England and India at the Rose Bowl:

England (from): P Collingwood (Durham, capt), I Bell (Warwickshire), M Prior (Sussex, wkt), O Shah (Middlesex), K Pietersen (Hampshire), A Flintoff (Lancashire), R Bopara (Essex), S Broad (Leicestershire), C Tremlett (Hampshire), J Anderson (Lancashire), M Panesar (Northamptonshire), A Cook (Essex), A Mascarenhas (Hampshire).

India (from): R Dravid (capt) MS Dhoni (wkt) S Tendulkar, S Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, G Gambhir, R Sharma, P Chawla, R Powar, R Uthappa, A Agarkar, Z Khan, M Patel, K Karthik, RP Singh.

Umpires: B Doctrove (WI) & M Benson (Eng)

Third Umpire: N Llong (Eng)

Match referee: R Mahanama (SL).