Cook and England are ready for World Cup

Captain speaks ahead of Sri Lanka series

Emdad Rahman

National captain Alistair Cook is confident that England are on the verge of a successful new dawn as England get ready to fly off to Sri Lanka as part of their World Cup

preparations. England have won only seven of their 18 ODIs in 2014, including defeats to India, Sri Lanka and Australia. Arrangements for the World Cup will begin tomorrow as England jet off to Sri Lanka on Sunday to take part in a seven game series against one of the tournaments favourites. Speaking at a press conference at Lord’s, Cook said he believed that with consistency his troops can replicate their test form in limited overs cricket. Cook said: “We’ve got seven matches – that’s quite a long series. There was a great feeling about the place at the Kia Oval when we won there and now we’ve got to recreate that.” He hopes the games in Sri Lanka need no motivation for his players, especially with the carrot of the World Cup on the horizon. England has not reached the final since 1992.

Speaking of disappointing past performances Cook said: “Since 1992, we haven’t done ourselves any justice in World Cups. We have a great opportunity and I’m excited about playing one day cricket where we haven’t got test cricket in the forefront. If we peak at the right time, I don’t think anyone will want to play us.” Cook also went to lengths to dispel the controversy over Kevin Pietersen’s autobiography. “We’ve had a couple of weeks together and we haven’t felt the need to talk about it at all,” he said. “It’s all happened now, it’s all out now from his side and as players we’ve left it. There’s nothing more that can really come out. We just want to build and move forward as a side and as a captain, that’s a good place to be.”

England’s pre-World Cup schedule:
•Seven-match series in Sri Lanka: 26 November – 16 December
•Two games against Australia, in Sydney & Hobart: 18 & 23 January
•Two games against India, in Brisbane & Perth: 20 & 30 January

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