GROS ISLET, St Lucia: England may well have avoided Australia in the semifinals of the World Twenty20 but captain Paul Collingwood is unconcerned who his side play in the last four.
Collingwood’s men beat New Zealand by three wickets on Monday to top their Super Eights group with a perfect played three, won three record.
Former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan starred with 40 after England, chasing 150 for victory, had slumped to 66 for four in the absence of star batsman Kevin Pietersen, who was back home for the birth of his first child, a boy, which took place on Monday.
Meanwhile, Tim Bresnan chipped in with a solid all-round display.
Pietersen, who made fifties in England’s preceding wins over both Pakistan and South Africa, is due back in the Caribbean in time for Thursday’s (tomorrow) semifinal, also in St Lucia, where England will be up against the runners-up in Group F.
That’s unlikely to be Australia who seem set to top that pool.
England have never won a major international one-day competition and the last of their three losing World Cup final appearances was in 1992.
“We all know we haven’t won an ICC trophy,” Collingwood said. “In the semis, and if we get through to the final, I won’t be bothered who we’re playing.
“Winning would be an exceptional effort.”
Few backed England to get to the last four, given their recent record in one-day events, and Collingwood said: “I’m just absolutely delighted to get through to the semis. Who we play doesn’t really matter.
“All the teams that are in the semis now are very, very strong and we’ve got to keep this belief and momentum going.
“We’ve got two games and we could win a World Cup. The confidence is sky high and we’re all very excited to be in this position.”
As for winning without Pietersen, Collingwood added: “If we want to go all the way it’s going to take a team effort.
“We’ll all have to put our hands up at certain points.
“With Swanny (Graeme Swann) and Broady (Stuart Broad) coming in (to bat), even after Bresy (Bresnan), we’ve got a really strong line up.
“A special mention has to go to the two guys up front, Craig (Kieswetter) and Michael (Lumb) too, for the way they’re taking the game to the opposition and giving us that real kickstart.
“That really does take the pressure off the middle order.”
Even so, Collingwood was still looking forward to welcoming Pietersen back into the squad.
“It’s perfect timing in many ways,” he said. “I’m delighted for him. Everybody’s healthy so it’s fantastic. The great thing for the England cricket team is that he’s going to be back for the semifinals.” |
‘England ready for anyone’
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‘England ready for anyone’
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