England learn lessons ahead of ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup

England captain Moeen Ali believes his side have learnt lessons from their disastrous pre-Christmas tour of Bangladesh and will put that acquired wisdom to good use at the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup (ICC U/19 CWC).

The 1998 tournament winners endured a wretched time on the sub-continent last November and December, losing all 11 matches on their trip, including six in a tri-series against the hosts and Sri Lanka.

But Ali said in Colombo on Wednesday he felt some good had come from the side's humbling experience.

"We learnt a lot from playing in Bangladesh, there is no doubt about that," he said.

"We did not adapt quickly enough to the pitches we found there as they are totally different from the ones we were used to back home but we have talked to each other about it.

"Batting-wise we are looking to play a lot straighter and we have got good game-plans now for the batsmen and bowlers."

The first chance England had to put those game-plans into action was on a three-match tour of Malaysia ahead of this tournament and on the evidence of the results - three convincing wins against the senior Malaysia side - the signs look promising.

Ali and former captain Varun Chopra scored hundreds, other batsmen got time at the crease, and the four players called in to freshen up the squad after the Bangladesh tour - opener Mark Stoneman, all-rounders Steven Mullaney and Mark Nelson and left-arm spinner Graeme White - all made important contributions.

Ali said: "The energy levels in the squad have changed dramatically (from Bangladesh). Those four guys that have come in have played really well and they have also fitted in straight away."

But despite the positive feeling around the England set-up after the Malaysia tour, coach Andy Pick said he was not getting carried away ahead of the side's first match in the ICC U/19 CWC, against Nepal next Monday (February 6).

"We are not pretending that beating Malaysia three times means we are suddenly favourites for the World Cup," he said.

"We are under no illusions that it will make a difference (to this tournament) but it is far better coming into the World Cup off the back of three wins rather than 11 losses," he added.

Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams has already said he is targeting England as his side's key game to win in Group D, a group that also includes Associate sides Ireland and Nepal, but Pick was happy to avoid returning the compliment.

"We are just focusing on producing our best cricket," said the England coach.

"We do not know how good Zimbabwe are and the same goes for Nepal and Ireland but we know how good we are and we have to strive every day to produce our best cricket.

"If we do that then we will always be in the game."

England might not know anything about their opponents at this stage but Pick said he would be looking to change that situation over the next few days.

"For the first time we have brought an (video) analyst with us to film all our matches and take footage of the other teams," he said.

"If possible we might get him to go and take some footage of the other teams we could come up against as the more prepared we can be the better it is for us."

England are favourites in their group to progress to the Super League but Pick said he and his players were not allowing themselves to think too much about the prospect of the next round yet.

"On the back of what went on before Christmas (in Bangladesh) I think it would be a bit presumptuous to talk about the Super League," he said.

"We have got to try and win as many of our first three games as we can and then, hopefully, if we get into the Super League then that is all about three one-off competitions and if we win each of those then we will win the World Cup.

"I feel we have got enough players with natural flair to produce a one-off performance that will change the shape of a game and if those guys step up then we have got a chance of winning.

"But at this stage we are not looking a great deal beyond the first stages," he added.

After England's first match of the tournament against Nepal, their other Group D fixtures are against Ireland on February 8 and Zimbabwe, two days later.

The top two sides from each of the four groups in the tournament will progress to the Super League stage, which consists of knock-out quarter- and semi-finals and a final on 19 February.

The England squad is: Moeen Ali (captain), Varun Chopra (vice-captain), Rory Hamilton-Brown, Nicholas James, Andrew Miller, Steven Mullaney, Mark Nelson, John Simpson, Mark Stoneman, Huw Waters, Graeme White, Greg Wood, Robert Woodman and Ben Wright.

Manager - John Abraham, coach - Andy Pick, physiotherapist - Rosalind Shuttleworth.

The ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2006 will take place between February 5 and 19. 16 teams are scheduled to play 44 matches in 15 days at five different venues in Colombo.