Cricket World Cup 2015: 5 Reasons to Believe England Will Win
England have never won the World Cup. It is tough to see, right now, why this year's tournament will be any different from the previous 10 editions.
However, this is not the time to be downbeat. The glass is half full, not empty.
Sure, it is easy to come up with possible obstacles that could derail England's bid for glory.
If that had been the task here, I would have written more words than I managed for my university dissertation many, many years ago.
There are certainly a few issues that Eoin Morgan's team must sort out—and quickly.
The top-order batting can be fragile, the middle-order has been inconsistent and the death bowling continues to be, putting it mildly, dreadful.
But let us be positive as we build up to the start of the 2015 event. England, right now, are level with every other team taking part.
Here are five possible reasons why they can upset the odds and return home with the trophy.
The Double Threat of Moeen Ali
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The meteoric rise of Moeen Ali continues. A year ago he had not even made his international debut—now he is an integral part of England's Test and one-day team.
He is opening the batting in the 50-over XI, his aggressive intent and ability to hit over the top making him a perfect player to exploit the initial powerplay period.
The left-hander hit his maiden ODI century during the series in Sri Lanka at the end of last year, making 119 from just 87 deliveries in Colombo.
However, during the Carlton Mid One-Day International Tri-Series, Moeen also became England's front-line spinner.
He performed admirably, taking five wickets in four games at a healthy run-rate of 4.16.
His performances—as well as the nature of the surfaces that are expected to be used in the World Cup—mean he may well have relegated fellow slow bowler James Tredwell to the role of drinks-carrier.
There will still be the odd blip with both bat and ball, but Moeen has the potential to make a real difference for England.
Familiarity with the Conditions
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England cannot say they are under-prepared for the World Cup.
A seven-game series in Sri Lanka toward the end of 2014 gave them time to consider their options, one of which was getting rid of captain Alastair Cook.
While those conditions were not reflective of what to expect in Australia and New Zealand, their appearance in the Carlton Mid One-Day International Tri-Series allowed them to get acclimatised.
The nature of the pitches during the World Cup should suit seam bowlers, and James Anderson's recent form against Australia and India—he took seven wickets and went at 3.62 runs an over—was impressive.
More importantly, England's batsmen should find the surfaces to their liking.
The bounce and pace on offer in Australia should benefit shot-makers like Ian Bell, Moeen Ali and Joe Root, while playing in New Zealand will almost feel like they are back home.
Spin should play less of a part in the competition, too, and that is always a bonus for an England side that has been tied up in knots by slow bowlers in the past.
For example, Sri Lankan Sachithra Senanayake has a career bowling average of 34.77 in ODI cricket. His average against England? An extremely miserly 14.57.
The Batting Brilliance of Eoin Morgan
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Eoin Morgan has scored seven ODI centuries in his career—the rest of England's World Cup squad have managed a grand total of 10 between them.
The former Ireland international (he made one of his hundreds while representing his home country) made his latest three-figure score in the recent Carlton Mid One-Day International Tri-Series.
The problem is, that knock of 121 against Australia in Sydney sticks out like a sore thumb when you look at his recent run of scores.
Morgan has failed to reach double figures in eight of his last 11 innings. In two of his last three trips to the middle, he did not manage to last longer than one ball.
However, when he is playing well, the left-hander frightens opponents.
His flexible wrists allow him to play the reverse sweep with ridiculous ease, while he can clear the boundary rope with a minimum of effort.
England desperately need their new one-day captain to be in good form during the upcoming competition.
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Remembering Their Win at the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010
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I know, I know. This is perhaps stretching it for a reason to be optimistic. But, come on, the options were always going to run out quickly.
Cast your mind back to 2010; England were not really expected to go all the way in the ICC World Twenty20.
In the previous two editions of the tournament they had failed to get past the second stage and had also suffered an embarrassing loss to the Netherlands at Lord's.
They qualified from their group five years ago only after rain cut short their match with Ireland, who had restricted their opponents to 120-8 and were 14-1 in their reply when the heavens opened.
Yet something clicked with that England squad after that.
They were unbeaten in the Super Eights, then eased to seven-wicket wins over both Sri Lanka and Australia in the knockout rounds.
Move things on to 2015, and England again have travelled in hope rather than expectation.
But, Eoin Morgan was part of that successful squad in 2010. James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad and James Tredwell were also there.
Perhaps they can just help rekindle a little bit of that magic from the Caribbean and inspire England to go all the way again.
Luck of the Draw
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England find themselves in Group A, the tougher of the two pools on current form.
They will go up against co-hosts Australia, a team they have beaten just three times in the last 13 meetings of the two Ashes rivals, and New Zealand.
Also in the same pool are Sri Lanka, who have reached the final at the last two World Cups and were champions back in 1996.
The presence of Bangladesh, as well as minnows Afghanistan and Scotland, should at least mean England avoid the embarrassment of failing to finish in the top four.
With the Super Eights (thankfully) now scrapped from the tournament, any team only needs to win three knockout games in a row to be crowned champions.
England—who will face a team from Group B in the quarter-finals—could easily catch fire, right?
We dare to dream, at least before a single ball has been bowled. It is the hope that kills you.
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