Moles plans to extract more from his team

While more established cricket sides speak of fending away complacency against Associates, Afghanistan take nothing for granted. So rapid has been their advance up the cricketing defile, they might almost be expected to take a breather and enjoy the view at their first World Cup. Yet on their second day in New Zealand, there was palpable urgency.

As next opponents Sri Lanka took a rest day on Friday, Afghanistan were focused and intense in the nets. Right-arm seamer Dawlat Zadran tore in off a long run up until the coach told him to ease up, and still, he was bounding in off a few paces, achieving good bounce from that velvet action. The batsmen didn't hesitate to cut or pull short balls, but had a mandate to work on their defence. Edges and mis-hits were greeted with occasional chastisement from coach Andy Moles, but batsmen were often harsher on themselves.

Afghanistan emphasise on their sport's ravine not only because of the groundswell of support for this team at home, but also because there burns a desire to carve out a cricket identity, Moles said. "We want to look at this game against Sri Lanka as another opportunity to put Afghanistan cricket in the shop window," he said. "I want to see the passion they have in the field. We've got a very simple game plan, but around that is enjoyment. The guys play with a smile on their faces. The knowledge of our quality is in our dressing room, and we want to bring that to the game."

Their first outing at the World Cup went worse than hoped. Afghanistan had beaten Bangladesh in the only ODI the two teams had played before the World Cup, but were outdone by 105 runs in Canberra, on Wednesday. After that match, Moles had said the world had "not seen Afghanistan play", so poor an account of themselves did he feel they gave.

"The team know that they are very, very well supported and that's something that drives them," Moles said. "After the Bangladesh match I keep mentioning this word 'disappointment' and they feel that they let their public at home down. A lot of messages of support have come through both the ACB, and through Facebook and stuff like that."

Perhaps Afghanistan's greatest failure in that match was at the top of their innings, when they lost three wickets for three runs, effectively putting paid to the chase. Moles said his top order needed to "switch on" earlier in order for their batting strength to be showcased.

"We are strokemakers, but it's difficult for strokemakers to be playing when our No. 4 and No. 5 are coming in with a ball just more than one over old," Moles said. "That's hard work. The Bangladesh bowlers bowled particularly well, and that's not illegal. When we play against Sri Lanka and the other top sides, bowlers are also going to bowl particularly well. The top three have got a job to do and that's to get the side into the game, rotate the strike, put the bad ball away and transfer a bit of pressure."

Afghanistan are reputed for their free-spirited batting in the Associate circuit, but like Sri Lanka 30 years ago, they are finding raw aggression must be tempered. It's a fine balance for Moles, who wishes to see their natural flair bloom, while beginning to compete against better attacks.

"We're playing on surfaces that we're not used to," he said. "The surfaces here bounce and the ball swings and seams, therefore you must have a look at the bowlers. And all that information - you feed it into your brain like you would into a computer, and it'll tell you how to play.

"I've said to these guys: 'You must express yourself and play with openness. Play the Afghan way. The best players in the world - take your Brendon McCullums and David Warners - they look at the bowling for an over or two. They don't go from ball one.' A lot of these guys have played against Associate members lower than Scotland, Ireland and the UAE, and they can get away with it. As they step up and move forward, they need to be more selective. It's about keeping to that identity, but improving at the same time."

For all the focus and grand ambition, there is no self-delusion here. Sri Lanka have been walloped by New Zealand over the past two months, but Moles said the next fixture remains a steep challenge for his said.

"We know we have to play our best in all three disciplines to have a chance, and we're just concentrating on that. Sri Lanka have had a tough couple of months over here, but New Zealand are an exceptional side at home and these Sri Lankans are a fine cricket team. They'll be fully expecting the opportunity to get their train back on track in two days' time against us. We know and respect them hugely.

"We had a goal of getting to the quarter-finals, but it's now that much harder, having lost to Bangladesh. That means that we probably have to beat two Full Member nations and Scotland. Scotland won't be an easy game either. All I want to do is compete. In reality, the Full Member sides have to play par or below par, and we have to have good days to win. We understand that."