England will be given strict instructions to play as free spirits when they set out to make their mark on the World Twenty20 in today's opening match against Zimbabwe.

Having played this format of cricket for longer than any other nation - the first domestic Twenty20 Cup was staged in 2003 - England will be among the sides expected to make an impression in this inaugural international Twenty20 event.

Other sides are bound to look at England's approach to the tournament with interest as the one side who have players with vast experience of this format of cricket and the intensity it produces.

But as they prepare for the first of back-to-back matches against Zimbabwe and Australia over the next two days, captain Paul Collingwood will be urging his team to play with bravery as they attempt to put down a marker for the tournament.

That will especially apply to the first six overs of fielding restrictions but Collingwood wants that aggressive style of play maintained throughout the innings.

''You have to be brave and play with freedom, not just in the first six overs but in the whole 20 overs of the innings,'' stressed Collingwood.

''That's an approach that has done well for us in the one-dayers this year. We have gone out there and played with a free spirit, but that is not saying to the players to go out there and be reckless and give their wickets away.

''You still have to analyse what the wicket is going to be like, you have to analyse that first ball and hopefully capitalise on those first six overs - all the teams are going to be looking to score big during those first six overs, but generally they will be looking for boundaries throughout the 20 overs.''

West Indies' Chris Gayle has already demonstrated the value of playing with such aggression by becoming the first player in history to score a Twenty20 century, only for South Africa to eclipse his efforts to win the opening match. The conditions at Newlands are unlikely to be so batsman-friendly on a surface which is expected to have slowed down after steady rain showers in recent weeks, but Collingwood has the confidence that England's long batting line-up can help them play with more freedom.

Depending on whether key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is ready to play after recent ankle problems, England could have the advantage of being able to bat Hampshire's Dimitri Mascarenhas as low as number nine as insurance against losing early wickets.

''Playing like that you are going to get out but with the make-up of the side and the batting line-up and with how far we bat down, you can sometimes accept losing a couple of early wickets because it is going to happen,'' explained Collingwood.

''There is no point trying to plan to be two down after 15 overs and get the runs in the last five because you are going to be fearful going out there.

''If every batsman goes out there with really positive intent and scores in their strong areas then hopefully we'll get a winning total.''

But Collingwood will also be stressing to his team to keep their tactics simple and try not to over-complicate their plans as they attempt to build on their success in the NatWest Series against India with a good start to this tournament.