We need the practice - Fletcher

Captain Nasser Hussain (left) is yet to sign a central contract

Duncan Fletcher has urged counties to play as many England players as possible, ahead of the Test series against Zimbabwe.

The England coach wants the 12 contracted players - who have been given a deadline of Thursday to sign the six-month agreements by the England and Wales Cricket Board - to be in the best shape possible when they take the field against Zimbabwe at Lord's on 18 May.

But clouding the issue is the failure by the players to reach agreement with the ECB over the new central contracts.

I'm very keen for them to play as much cricket as they can early in the season.

England coach Duncan Flecther

If the changes to several clauses in the original contract are not satisfactory, it could undermine the benefits of implementing the scheme.

"It's only when the contracts have been signed that I can then turn around and say when and where I want players to play," Fletcher said.

"I'm very keen for them to play as much cricket as they can early in the season, it's obviously the best practice they can have so the more cricket they can have before the middle of May the better."

"At times in South Africa this winter, I felt their fitness could be better, but it's very difficult for individuals to train on a tour between matches."

'Important blueprint'

The players are equally keen to sort out the issue, particularly as England are planning a cricket-practice camp next month.

We're not going to be rushed into anything

England captain Nasser Hussain

Nevertheless, they are adamant they will not be rushed into signing a contract they believe will be held up as a blueprint for future deals.

"Various things have come into this contract which have never been on a contract and no party wants to rush it because it's so important," captain Nasser Hussain said.

"We're not going to be rushed into anything, but at the same time we have an important year ahead of us and we just want to get on and play cricket.

"We're certainly not going to be rushed, but we as a team don't want this going on forever which is why we're quite happy with the Thursday deadline so that we can sit down and make some serious decisions.

"It's all a question of getting the right balance of not rushing something as important as this, but not letting it drag on so that it goes into the time when we're playing cricket."