Collingwood predicts first-round exit for England

England "don't look as if they will get out of the group stage" at this World Cup, according to Paul Collingwood.

Collingwood, the only man to lead England to a global limited-overs trophy - the World T20 in 2010 - described watching the crushing defeat at the hands of New Zealand in Wellington as "horrible" and suggested the coach, Peter Moores, could soon be fearing for his job.

And as he helps prepare the Scotland team for Monday's encounter against England, Collingwood feels "there is no better time" to take on his old team.

"I can't remember seeing such a one-sided game as England's defeat to New Zealand," he said. "There have been plenty of occasions where we've been pummelled in the past, but I've never seen a game like it in a World Cup.

"Being an England fan, it was horrible viewing and I really do feel for the players. It just proved the gulf between the two sides and you're not talking about a major difference in the skill levels, it's just about approaches and tactics.

"England don't look as if they'll get out of the group at this stage. That's the harsh reality."

There is a subtext to Collingwood's words, the bulk of which were made in a column for ICC Development International.

After a brief spell with the England coaching set-up - he spent a couple of months as one of Ashley Giles' assistants ahead of the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh - Collingwood returned to the Scotland camp as a specialist coach and will be in their dressing room when they take on England in Christchurch on Monday. He had been involved in the coaching team that helped Scotland qualify for the World Cup in the first place.

His words could, therefore, be interpreted as an attempt to unsettle the England camp ahead of an important match.

But Collingwood actually expressed some sympathy for England's players - who he continues to rate highly - and their captain, Eoin Morgan. It is the team management - particularly Moores - that leave him underwhelmed.

"England has got the most powerful batting line-up we've ever had if we pick players like Ravi Bopara in the middle order and Alex Hales up the top," Collingwood said.

"County cricket is producing some very good attacking players like Jason Roy at Surrey. The one-day game is going that way and it's almost like we don't want to take risks.

"Two years ago England and New Zealand were probably on a par but now the gap is so much because they've taken an aggressive approach and built confidence and momentum.

"I really do feel for Eoin Morgan. He's taken over the captaincy right at the last minute and he's carrying the can for a lot of the work that's gone on over the past year.

"At the moment England seem to playing at about 30 or 40% of their potential. You know there's so much more in the locker, and confidence-wise they're not there.

"Things will have to change around quickly if he [Peter Moores] doesn't want the pressure on his shoulders. If you are a batsman who doesn't put runs on the board, or a bowler who doesn't take wickets, you get dropped and it's exactly the same with a coach. If you don't get results, people will be looking at your job. In the industry we are in, it comes down to results."

All of which, Collingwood believes, gives Scotland an excellent chance to secure the first win in their World Cup history.

"With my Scotland hat on, there's real confidence and belief we can get a win. It's genuine because the guys are getting closer and closer against international opposition.

"We fought all the way to the end against New Zealand and it was only a three-wicket margin and we should have won against the West Indies the week before so we're getting there.

"Of course, it will be an emotionally strange day for me, having been involved in England for so long and playing with a lot of the players in the side, but I'm 100% right behind trying to get Scotland to get this win.

"That's going to be an amazing feeling if we can get that first-ever World Cup win under our belt, there's no better time than against England. That would mean so much to Scottish cricket.

"We'll cause problems because we know we have the skill levels and the approach and our first win is just around the corner. Hopefully the guys will be singing 'Flower of Scotland' in the dressing room come Monday."