Ian Bell, the England opening batsman, is an injury doubt for the fourth one-day international in the NatWest Series against New Zealand at The Oval tomorrow.

The Warwickshire player tweaked a knee when playing touch-rugby with his team-mates on the outfield. He looked in a degree of pain and was forced to sit out England’s subsequent net sessions.

Alastair Cook has recovered from a shoulder problem that forced him out of the first three games of the series and would be the obvious replacement for Bell if he is unfit.

Cook had been due to play for Essex in the Twenty20 Cup against Sussex this evening but will now remain with the England squad. Ryan Sidebottom is also fit after recovering from a back strain.

New Zealand have received a boost with the news that Jacob Oram, the all-rounder, has recovered from the hamstring injury and is fit to play for the first time in the series.

Grant Elliott, who replaced Oram in the third one-day match having been playing for Weybridge in the Surrey League, has kept his place in the squad. Gareth Hopkins is likely to drop out of the starting XI.

England (from): PD Collingwood (Durham, capt), IR Bell (Warwickshire), AN Cook (Essex), LJ Wright (Sussex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), RS Bopara (Essex), OA Shah (Middlesex), TR Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), GP Swann (Northamptonshire), SC Broad (Nottinghamshire), CT Tremlett (Hampshire), JM Anderson (Lancashire), RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), AD Mascarenhas (Hampshire).

New Zealand (from): DL Vettori (capt), JM How, BB McCullum (wkt), RPL Taylor, SB Styris, DR Flynn, GD Elliott, G Hopkins, KD Mills, TG Southee, MR Gillespie, MJ Mason, JDP Oram, JS Patel.

Umpires: S Davis, M Benson.

Match referee: J Srinath.

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