Cricket World Cup 2015: England's Biggest Headache Is Who Will Take the Wickets?

Their recent results may not show it, but England are heading into the 2015 World Cup with a renewed sense of optimism. Do they have the wicket-taking bowlers to mount a serious challenge, though?

Ian Bell appears invigorated at the top of the order and a batting line-up featuring Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler looks exciting if a little inconsistent.

Morgan's side will need all the runs they can get, as there are major questions about the bowling attack.

England's efforts with the ball in the recent Tri-Series against India and Australia were a mixed bag. At times, they looked terrific, keeping a lid on the otherwise prolific Virat Kohli.

Against the Australians, though, they were often way off the pace, unable to make a breakthrough or stem the runs when the slog was on. So which England can fans expect to see come World Cup time?

If there is any help from the pitch, then it could be the former. After a lengthy break, James Anderson has settled straight back into the rhythm that makes him such a dangerous performer. Finding a hint of movement with the white ball, he was the pick of the English seamers in the Tri-Series, collecting seven wickets at an average of 19.42 and an economy rate of just 3.62.

There were also positive signs from Steven Finn. The 6'7” seamer may not have troubled 90mph on the speed gun, but he looks much improved on the shell of a bowler who was sent home from Australia a year ago. With 11 victims, the Middlesex man was second only to Mitchell Starc in the wickets column in the Tri-Series.

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.@finnysteve’s 5-33 today is the 2nd best ODI bowling figures for England v India!! #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/QbkJDWARv3

— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 20, 2015"

While Anderson quickly found his groove, Stuart Broad looked a little rusty. He may look mean with his new skinhead, but his five wickets at over 50 with an economy rate of 5.93 has left room for improvement.

Eranga Jayawardena/Associated Press

The knock on Chris Woakes has been that he isn't quick enough to trouble the best batsmen. That criticism can be put to bed, as he has consistently been England's quickest bowler in recent matches.

The Warwickshire all-rounder showed what he is capable of with a haul of four for 40 against the Aussies in Sydney. James Faulkner got stuck into him at the death of the final at Perth, though, leaving him with ugly figures of none for 86 from his 10 overs.

Bowling at the business end of innings remains a huge problem for England, a fact acknowledged by coach Peter Moores.

Speaking after the loss in the final to Australia, Moores said (via the Express) that his bowlers "ought to have gone to the yorker more toward the end of their innings and we should have been chasing 250 not 270-80 but it just got away from us.”

If England can't find a way to stem the runs at the close, their World Cup trip could be a short one.

Why aren't England as proficient in this area as their rivals from Australia, Sri Lanka and India? A lack of experience trying to calm the carnage in high-pressure Twenty20 competitions such as the IPL and Big Bash is one factor.

As the BBC's Charles Dagnall noted: "None of England's seamers play as much Twenty20 cricket as the Australians, Indians, Sri Lankans and Kiwis, so they don't have as much experience of death bowling. I'm not sure they have set plans, they seem to be making it up as they go along."

There's a certain sameness about England's attack. A steady diet of right-arm medium fast at around 85mph is all well and good on a seaming pitch, but it's not quite so handy on a flat surface when the charge is on. Lacking variety, genuine pace or a big-turning spinner, it's hard to see where the wickets will come from when conditions don't suit.

It's a similar story with the spin bowling. The impressive Moeen Ali and the lesser spotted James Tredwell are canny operators, but they're not likely to run through a side.

England's batsmen will be pleased to be facing Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins and company in Melbourne rather than at fast-and-bouncy Brisbane or Perth. The bowlers probably aren't quite as thrilled.

Eoin Morgan's side then cross the water for two games in Wellington, with a stop in Christchurch sandwiched in between. A total of 287 was enough to see Sri Lanka home by 34 runs in the last match of their recent series against New Zealand in Wellington. The hosts then beat Pakistan by seven wickets chasing just 210 at the same venue.

In the Black Caps' last ODI in Christchurch, they sneaked home by three wickets chasing 218. Recent history suggests there'll be something on offer at both venues for the seamers.

It's then on to Adelaide and Sydney for the final two group matches against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. If England need help from the pitch to win those two, the game will be up.

Even the most ardent England supporter would struggle to picture Eoin Morgan lifting the trophy next month, but at least they're now playing like they want to win rather than trying not to lose.

How the seamers shape up will go a long way to determining just how successful Morgan's one-day captaincy will be.

Stats courtesy of ESPNcricinfo and Howstat.com