Friday, March 02, 2007

England depart in confident mood

Vaughan at Gatwick Airport
Vaughan remains an injury worry for the World Cup
England fly to the Caribbean on Friday upbeat over their World Cup chances after their late success in Australia.

They ended a woeful Ashes tour with four successive one-day wins last month to clinch the Commonwealth Bank Series.

"It's the first time Australia have lost that tournament in 14 years," chairman of selectors David Graveney told BBC Radio Five Live.

"The guys came back with smiles on their faces and they get on the plane with some confidence."

However, Graveney was keen to ensure the Ashes whitewash was not forgotten, saying: "I wouldn't wish to gloss over what's happened in the last couple of months and the reviews and whatever will make their findings."

The fact Australia have lost a number of games brings them back into the pack
David Graveney

And he also stopped short of promising captain Michael Vaughan would be back at his best after a hamstring injury.

"His rehab is going very well, he obviously is a crucial element to our team and he's pretty confident he'll take a full part," he said of the veteran batsman.

"We've got a very good medical team and they're going with the team so every avenue has been covered.

"But as Michael said, you don't really know until you actually play a competitive game, when your body reacts in a different way."

Vaughan is likely to play a limited role in warm-up matches against Bermuda on Monday and Australia next Friday.

England need him to be fit for their opening game against New Zealand in St Lucia on 16 March.

Although both sides are likely to progress from Group C, which also includes Canada and Kenya, the points from the match carry over into the Super Eight second round stage.

Australia remain favourites, although their loss to England and subsequent 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand have seen them overtaken by South Africa in the world one-day rankings.

The Kiwis, hosts West Indies and India are also seen as contenders.

"The fact Australia have lost a number of games brings them back into the pack," Graveney added.

"Everybody who wasn't directly involved in those matches will have looked at them and said, 'They can be beaten on a given day."

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