Broad eyeing good start in T20 WC following strong pre-tournament preparation

England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad is confident of getting a strong start to their World Cup title defence after their brilliant pre-tournament preparation.

England is notorious for their bad starts in big tournaments, losing to the West Indies in 2010 and the Netherlands in 2009, and Broad reckons the current crop will be on the money against Afghanistan in their opening game on Friday.

"It is important we get out of the blocks and we have been slow to do that in previous tournaments. We've got a talented squad and we've come here to win," the Daily Mirror quoted Broad, as saying.

"I think we have not had this sort of preparation and build up before. We were very fortunate to have those three games at home. We've been together for two weeks before our first game rather than meet up a week before, so it is like we are already into the tournament," he added.

Broad is wary of minnows Afghanistan, who would be playing to survive in the tournament after losing their first game against India despite a spirited performance.

Broad said he was aware of such a situation after a T20 loss to the Dutch and a 50-over World Cup defeat to Ireland last year, but hoped those experiences would help to make sure it doesn't happen again.

"Any international you have to be on top of your game. Look at the times we haven't been. Ireland took us down and the Netherlands took us down as well," Broad said.

"The shorter the game the more dangerous these teams are and Afghanistan aren't going to hold back with the bat. It will be important we keep our cool," he added.