ENGLAND will begin the NatWest Series against New Zealand with a proud record to uphold in one-day international cricket.

Not since they last played in a red kit – the colour of their new one for this Champions Trophy summer, to be unveiled today against the Kiwis at Lord’s – have they lost a home 50-over series.

That defeat was a landslide 6-1 to Australia in September 2009, and of course they must hope switching back from blue to red does not bring back those bad old days.

Alastair Cook has known only comparative success, including a 2-2 draw against South Africa last summer, in home ODI series since taking over as captain from Andrew Strauss two years ago.

He discounts the theory that England’s Champions Trophy campaign starts here, with this first of three NatWest matches little more than a week before their tournament opener against Australia, stressing another home victory is the sole immediate focus.

‘‘We want to maintain that record,’’ said Cook.

‘‘We’re comfortable in our own conditions, very familiar with it and have played some good cricket.’’ The captain greeted Kevin Pietersen’s presence at Lord’s – he met management and had a short net at the nursery end and fielding drill on the main outfield – as ‘‘great news for English cricket’’, as the superstar batsman continues his schedule to regain fitness in time for the Ashes.

Cook remained steadfastly and predictably in the here and now, though, as he concentrated not on hopes and fears of what may or may not happen in July but England’s prospects against the Kiwis and the confidence they have built up with that unbeaten home sequence.

‘‘We can take a lot from that – but just because we had a good record doesn’t mean you have the right to continue that without playing very well.

‘‘In these three games against New Zealand, we are going to have to do that.’’ Neither the state of Pietersen’s knee, nor reports yesterday that the Australian Government may yet fasttrack Pakistani-born spinner Fawad Ahmed’s citizenship in time for him to join the Ashes after all, are about to distract Cook from his next match.

The same goes too for the shadow cast by the imminence of the Champions Trophy. ‘‘We are building up to that – it’s the same squad – but it’s very important as a side we are looking at this series in isolation to try and win this series.

‘‘There will be times this week when we will be planning for the Champions Trophy as well, but it doesn’t feel to me it is that at all.’’ England yesterday added Jade Dernbach to their squad, to cover for Tim Bresnan’s possible absence with his wife due to give birth to their first child in the next week – and Cook also admitted, without specifying who is involved, that injury ‘‘niggles’’ are causing minor concern.

Whatever the personnel, though, England seem likely to continue with the triedand- tested policy of four frontline seamers and a spinner which has worked so well in home conditions.

‘‘I think we’re pretty clear on our strategy,’’ said Cook.

‘‘Over the last few years in our one-day cricket in England, we’ve been on a good run, won quite a lot of series and matches – so we’re quite clear in our minds.

‘‘It’s worked well for us in the past, so I think we’re quite comfortable playing that way.

‘‘There are a couple of niggles.

‘‘It’s always the way with such a quick turnaround from a Test match – there’s always a couple of niggles flying around – we’re just going to wait and see.’’ A watching brief may be advisable too when it comes to England’s performance in that red strip.

But Cook for one will not be losing any sleep on that score.

‘‘It doesn’t bother me at all,’’ he said.

‘‘I think it’s quite a nice change of colour.

‘‘We have a small input, but it’s not something we worry about too much.

‘‘I think we’re all pretty comfortable in what we wear.”