World Cup: Write England off at your peril

As a Brit, watching England stutter and lurch their way to the World Cup quarterfinals has been a highly stressful affair. I need new fingernails, having chewed off my old ones in anxiety, and if we reach the finals I will probably have gnawed down to my wrists. The well-being of my hands therefore depends on whether England can overcome one of their toughest challenges of the tournament yet, Sri Lanka at home.

Based on England’s previous results in the tournament, we should be in for a thriller. They lost narrowly to Bangladesh and Ireland, before exhilarating victories against South Africa and the West Indies, the former by just six runs. This is not even mentioning their remarkable draw against India.

England’s path to the quarterfinals has been rocky and treacherous, they have suffered agonising losses but have conversely snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. As a result, mentally they’re a stronger team. Having progressed through the tournament on large slices of luck, England will feel the pressure is off and they have the freedom to go for it on Saturday. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have the expectations of a home crowd weighing heavy on their shoulders. How to beat a team with nothing to lose?

Based on previous results, Sri Lanka should have a doddle. Of the 13 ODIs England have played in Sri Lanka, they have won only four, with an equally miserable record of two wins in seven at Colombo. However, in the shorter span over the World Cup, England will feel they have the mental edge. Sri Lanka progressed through the group stages with relatively little drama, convincing wins against the lesser teams of Kenya, Zimbabwe and New Zealand were undermined by a loss to Pakistan. Their temperament has yet to be tested in the fashion England’s has, leaving them susceptible to the destructive effects of pressure should a tense finale present itself.

Much has been written on the exhaustion suffered by English cricketers, having been on the road for five months including an Ashes tour Down Under. Indeed the physical strain has materialised into a seemingly never-ending injury list, including the likes of fast bowler Stuart Broad and swashbuckling batsman Kevin Pietersen. Both potential match-winners.

Despite this, their fresh-legged replacements have proven adept at rising to the challenge and injecting vitality into the drained England squad. All-rounder Luke Wright (44 runs) and off-spinner James Tredwell (4-48) made vital contributions in the must-win match against the West Indies.

Reports suggest Sri Lanka are preparing a slow, turning wicket at the Premadasa Stadium to provide some venom for their spin bowling attack. Ironically, this could weigh in England’s favour as their front-line bowler, Graeme Swann, would thrive on such a wicket. In the batting department, as England demonstrated in their low-scoring win against South Africa, a tricky wicket suits their gritty style of batting, as opposed to a flat, batsmen’s paradise.

This takes me to the key ingredient England possesses, grit. As personified in their coach, Andy Flower, who kept wicket even with a broken finger. England have fostered a never-say-die attitude. They have already experienced the tension of a must-win game versus the West Indies and proved themselves equal to it. Despite possessing better quality players, Sri Lanka may find themselves second best in a battle of nerves.

Though, England may walk out in Colombo to a hostile crowd and as firm underdogs, I have not endured such anxiety to see them go down without a fight. My judgement may be deluded by patriotism, but write them off at your peril.

—Writer is an intern and a student  of Durham University