Bermuda’s batsmen will be bombarded by the full force of England’s pace attack today as no less than five of the Test country’s top bowlers will be included in a 13-man team in which competition for World Cup bowling spots has never been fiercer.

Andrew Flintoff, who skippered the side to one-day success in Australia but has now been replaced by an almost fully-recovered Michael Vaughan, will take his place in an attack that will also feature James Anderson, Liam Plunkett, Jon Lewis and Sajid Mahmood, as well as charismatic spinner Monty Panesar.

With the England batting line-up virtually settled heading into the World Cup, selectors plan on using today’s warm-up match against Bermuda, in which each team will be allowed to use 13 players, to fine tune their attack.

And as such the Island bats could face their stiffest test since entering the One Day International arena almost two years ago.

Jon Lewis, sent home from Australia with an ankle injury but retained in the England World Cup squad, told The Royal Gazette yesterday it mattered nothing to him that he’d be bowling against ‘amateur’ batsmen today — emphasising that all of the bowlers were under pressure to perform in order to secure their spots.

The 31-year-old Gloucestershire player said: “I don’t think it really makes too much difference who we’re playing. We’re building up to the tournament, we’ve still got Australia in a warm-up (next Friday) and that will be one of the sternest tests we can get, and it will be good to beat them and Bermuda and progress into the tournament with a couple of wins under our belts.

“I’ll use this match simply as practice. But all of the bowlers know they’re competing for places. I imagine all of the boys will bowl five or six overs each.

“It’s a real strong position for us to be in, four quick bowlers plus Andrew Flintoff as an all-rounder and we’re all fighting for a place in the side.”

Vaughan, meanwhile, made it clear over the weekend that while Bermuda might be considered the tiniest and least threatening of the World Cup minnows, they’d be receiving no favours when they step out at Arnos Vale this morning.

Vaughan told a press conference at the picturesque Beachcombers resort where the England side are staying that he took exception to any suggestion that he or his players would be taking Bermuda lightly.

And with his side looking to maintain the momentum and confidence strengthened by three straight victories over world champions Australia, he insisted it was a game England had to win.

“I disagree when you say there’s nothing to gain, there’s a lot to gain,” said Vaughan. “We’ve only just arrived in the Caribbean and we’re playing in Caribbean conditions.

“We can play 13 players in this match, so it’s going to be crucial that we make the most of the game situation, and get the most out of it we can.

“We see it is a real important game. Whoever you play in your first game, you have to make sure you get rid of the cowebs and get some match practice.” But the England captain conceded he knew little or nothing about Bermuda’s players, apart from Glamorgan skipper David Hemp.

“I don’t know a great deal about them, apart from Hemp, but we’ll obviously want to win the match,” he added.

“We’ll be using it as a practice match to make sure we get some kind of useful time in the middle.

“We know about Hempy but we don’t know much about the rest of them.”

Having missed much of the recent series Down Under through injury, Vaughan said the warm-up games were particularly important as he battled to get fully fit again.

“I don’t how much I’ll play (against Bermuda) until I get through the practice session,” he told reporters.

“But I will be playing some part of the game.

“I’m gradually building up to play a mucher bigger part against Australia next Friday. Then obviously I want to be ready for the big game against New Zealand on the 16th (of March).

“These two weeks are crucial for me but they’re crucial for all of the players to get accustomed to these conditions, different wickets etc. It’s a a different environment, so it will be a good two weeks for us.”

As for the World Cup, Vaughan said he agreed Australia might still be considered the favourites but added that in his opinion it remained an ‘open’ competition.

“Australia might be considered favourites with they being champions two times on the trot, but I think it’s just an open World Cup.

“Most of the teams arriving in the Caribbean over the last few days, certainly the top eight teams, will be thinking they’ve got a great chance of winning the World Cup.

“It’s going to be down to how you manage your tactics, strategies, and also the players giving themselves an opportunity.

“We can talk a good game at the moment, and rightfully so, but it’s all about playing well, consistency and getting it right in the big games, and that’s what we’ve got to do.”