England creeping under the radar

Best performance: Runners-up 1979, 1987, 1992
2003: Super sixes
Price: 10/1

Even the most patriotic of England fans would probably agree that it has been a long time since they were a world force in one-day cricket. You could go back as far as 1992, to be exact, when they reached the World Cup final, losing out to a classy Pakistan side.

Since then, they have struggled to keep up with the likes of Australia and South Africa, constantly switching between using their Test players and then a selection of bit-part players who would not get into the side for any one discipline.

In recent times, they have been little short of woeful, winning just 13 of their past 40 matches, the worst record of any of the major countries.

With Marcus Trescothick gone from the top of the order, they have problems with their openers, though Michael Vaughan, back to fitness and back as captain, could fill that void and Ravi Bopara is an interesting choice in preference to Mal Loye.

In Ian Bell, Ed Joyce and Paul Collingwood, they have the makings of a good middle order. With Andrew Flintoff coming in at six or seven, they have strength in depth but their hopes of success will probably fall largely on the shoulders of Kevin Pietersen, of whom more later.

Liam Plunkett has emerged as a decent seamer, while Monty Pietersen is a good variation. And crucially, the return to fitness of Vaughan has brought stability and unity to the side. Even without him, they bounced back from their Ashes debacle to win the one-day series in Australia, so all is not lost.

Player to watch: Kevin Pietersen
Anyone who averages more than 56 in one-day internationals has to be a pretty impressive performer and Pietersen is that and then some. Immensely strong, his unorthodoxy makes him difficult to bowl to and his confidence is second to none. There is nothing like seeing him charge down the wicket to the likes of Glenn McGrath to lift the English spirits.

Providing he has recovered from the injury which forced him home early from Australia, he should be fresh and his part-time leg-spin could also play a part. If he fires on all cyclinders, then England will do well.

Prediction:
Semi-finals
Should ease through their group and a place in the final is not beyond them but a semi-final berth is the most likely.