World Cup 2015: Low Expectations May Help England Gather Momentum

England’s national sports teams have commanded low expectations from the fans for some time.

Destruction in the Ashes and the football World Cup may be firmly in the rear-view mirror of 2014, but they are representative of malaise regular supporters have grown accustomed to.

England have never won a cricket World Cup. They have not triumphed in the footballing version since 1966. These two facts form the basis of the England supporter’s ethos.  

Use logic. Use historical precedent. Use statistics. Set your expectations accordingly. This is how it has always been. Pessimism is passed down through the generations.

Underachievement can be bemoaned in the usual fashion, and in the unlikely outcome of overachievement, genuine enjoyment can result.

Bookmakers are not giving England much of a chance of triumphing in the Cricket World Cup this time around. Host nation Australia are understandably favourites alongside a strong looking South African side, with New Zealand being given an outside chance.

Australia are favourites to lift the trophy for good reason. They have a powerful and consistent batting lineup, the best hostile fast-bowlers and have the advantage of playing at home.

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South Africa are not far behind. In Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn they have three of the best players in world cricket. They could beat any team on their day.

Meanwhile, New Zealand have managed to shake free of their perennial dark horse label. They have earned the right to be taken seriously. In their stead, England are being burdened with the title, per Vic Marks, writing for the Guardian.

The jibes have also begun Down Under. Posters have been put up in Melbourne remarking on England’s “missing balls,” per The Sydney Morning Herald.

This low expectation could work in England's favour.

The format of the competition means England should comfortably make it out of the group, with a quarter-final place the benchmark. They can even afford to lose their opening matches against Australia and New Zealand.

The World Cup rewards sprint finishes, not fast starts.

Realistically, all of the major nations should progress from the group stages. The competition only really heats up a whole month after it begins.

Momentum, confidence and form can all be built up in the first month. England will play regularly maligned minnows Afghanistan, Scotland and Bangladesh. These are opportunities for the batsmen to score runs and the bowlers to gain rhythm.

By the time they reach a knockout game, the side could have a completely different aura.

Right now, the biggest worry seems to be the form and position of Ravi Bopara in the side.

Bopara is not a crucial player for England. He is not a match-winner. He is in the team as an all-rounder but has bowled just six overs in his last seven ODI games. He has not been scoring runs, either.

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England have a choice: They can stick with him or replace him with a batsman. Gary Ballance would be a more than worthy replacement. If so, Moeen Ali’s off-spin has been consistent recently and Joe Root can also be relied on to bowl, if necessary.  

This is not a major problem. The fact that Bopara’s place is the major talking point perhaps reflects the underlying assurance of the team.

England have a settled side. The problem positions of the past have been resolved. James Taylor looks assured at three. Chris Woakes’ bowling has improved dramatically to the point where he provides support to stalwarts Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

The middle order batting does still appear brittle at times, and death bowling has been wayward on occasions, but there is a sense that improvements are being made. The side are accelerating at the right time.

These improvements will not be manifested publicly by supporters. England fans will once again be braced for mediocrity on the biggest stage. The nation will hold its collective breath and wait for something to go wrong.

The only way England can inspire confidence is through performances on the pitch. Momentum in major tournaments is key. Beating Australia on Saturday would be a good start—who knows where they could go from there.