Former captain Michael Vaughan has backed England to make an impact at the World Cup after successful preparations Down Under.
After a series of impressive outings in the Tri-Series, England beat West Indies by nine wickets yesterday and will face Pakistan tomorrow in the last of their warm-up games before their first match of the competition against Australia on Saturday.
Vaughan feels that the run of form Eoin Morgan‘s men showed en route to the Tri-Series final, where they lost to the hosts, proves that they are building up a head of steam just at the right time.
“England are starting to look like they might have a chance in this World Cup – they have got a bit of momentum,” the Ashes-winning captain told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“They’ve got a settled team which is starting to play more consistently. I really believe that they believe they can cause a few shocks in this World Cup.”
Vaughan, who led his country at the 2007 World Cup, was joined by former England coach Ashley Giles, and Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie, and they praised the current set-up of the England side.
Giles, who is preparing for his first season in charge of Lancashire, said: “If England come out and play positively and play with a bit of courage – to win World Cups you have to play that way – they could put the Aussies under pressure in that first game in Melbourne.”
I think @ECB_cricket team will surprise a few ,I believe it’s the best squad we’ve ever had going into a WC #notmuchtobeatthough
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) February 7, 2015
His former international captain added: “England’s big decision at the start of the Tri-Series was who was going to open. They went with Ian Bell and he’s been brilliant. He has come out of the blocks and played expansively but with that control. He’s got all the shots; he’s been a revelation at the top of the order.
“He and Moeen Ali complement each other quite nicely, while James Taylor has played two crucial innings so he’s established himself in that number three spot.
“I also think Eoin Morgan, as captain, has done really well tactically. I like the way he has manoeuvred the bowlers and the field but I think he’d like a few more runs.”
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