Chris Adams believes England have to change the make-up of their side if they are to become a power in one-day cricket.

And the Sussex skipper is hoping a successful start to the season can help him force his way back into the international set-up.

Adams believes there are too many all-rounders in the current team and not enough specialist batsmen.

The 30-year-old has one of the best records in domestic one-day cricket, but he accepts his chance of making the World Cup squad will all but disappear if he doesn't force himself into the side for the triangular series against Sri Lanka and India this summer.

He said: "If England are looking for someone who is still playing well in one-day cricket and has the stats to prove it then that's me.

"At the end of last season I spoke to (chairman of selectors) David Graveney and he told me that I was still in their thoughts. That's nice to hear, but it's also frustrating because I'm still waiting for another opportunity.

"It puts a lot of pressure on you to perform at the start of the season. If you are not playing in the one-day series you have missed the boat for the rest of the summer which will make selection for the World Cup even harder."

Adams, 30, made the last of his five one-day international appearances two years ago and averages a modest 17.75.

But he feels his technique has improved since then and he has made another adjustment during the winter.

He revealed: "I've been trying to get my bat back higher and straighter than before.

"You are only dealing with a fraction of a second but that can make the difference against the world's best bowlers. It means I can hit the ball through the leg side more which is important in one-day cricket because the offside is normally packed and good players need to be able to score on the on side just as effectively."

England lost the series in New Zealand 3-2 after defeat in Dunedin on Tuesday and Adams agrees with captain Nasser Hussain's belief they are still some way off being regarded as potential challengers the likes of Australia and South Africa in the World Cup in a year's time.

Adams said: "I genuinely believe they have got the make-up of the side wrong.

"Obviously there has to be a place for an all-rounder, possibly two now that Andrew Flintoff has come on so much with the ball this winter.

"But we've seen so many times this winter when the top order has failed that you are asking numbers seven, eight and nine to bat out the last 20 overs. Guys like Paul Collingwood and Craig White should be coming in then, not at five or six.

"I believe you have got to pack your side with batters who are also dynamic fielders.

"If they are looking for people who have consistently scored hundreds in the top three or four then that's me, my record is unsurpassed by guys who are still playing the game.

"I have scored 16 one-day hundreds which is almost as many as England's top four batsmen combined.

"I averaged 42 in all one-day cricket last season, and I do tend to score my runs quickly. I'm improving all the time with the ball, having done a lot of work this winter on my bowling."

Adams says he will again bat at three for Sussex in one-day cricket this season with Murray Goodwin at four.

That leaves an opener's slot alongside Richard Montgomerie available and Tim Ambrose will start favourite to fulfill the role.