Michael Yardy is a nice lad but he has been a buffet bowler. So between them there have been 20 overs of rubbish. Two fifths of the overs bowled by England have been easy to hit. Matt Prior’s wicketkeeping and batting have gone backwards and one of our best one-day batsmen, Paul Collingwood, can’t make a significant run.
On top of that one of our best one-day bowlers, Stuart Broad, is injured and those are just a handful of the problems we face. Perhaps England need to play a few fresh faces and get a bit more energy into the side.
You can’t win matches consistently with two or three guys playing well and the rest not shaping up. So far either the bowlers have bowled well and the batsmen failed or the batsmen have done well and the bowling lacked control. It has to change fast but time has almost run out.
• Geoffrey Boycott will be previewing all of England's games throughout this tournament, while Derek Pringle, Scyld Berry and Steve James will also bring you their thoughts on the rest of the action.
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Stat of the day: Canada reached 50 in just 4.4 overs against Australia - the quickest half-century opening stand of the tournament thus far.
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Tweet of the day: @Swannyg66 "I hear Chris Moyles is doing a marathon broadcast for comic relief? Surely an equally long silence from him would double the income?"
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Yesterday at the World Cup
Shoaib Akhtar has confirmed he will retire from international cricket after the World Cup. The Pakistan pace bowler has repeatedly struggled for fitness throughout his career.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting apologised for his on-field strop after colliding with Steve Smith during the win over Canada. "It wasn't a great reaction I guess," he said.
England have confirmed that Kevin Pietersen has undergone surgery on the hernia injury which ruled him out of the World Cup. He is expected to be fit to return to the side in time for the home series against Sri Lanka this summer.
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Today's debate:
Is Ricky Ponting damaging Australia's chances at the World Cup? Tweet @telegraphsport, or send your emails to sportfeedback@telegraph.co.uk.
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Your emails:
"Broad is the sensible option as England's next one-day captain - guaranteed starter, but the management need to manage his fitness better. It's no surprise that he is breaking down, he has been beasted on the strength building program and rushed back after his Aussie injury. And guess what, he gets a new injury at the World Cup. The bloke needs more overs bowled, not more weights lifted. Bowling fitness CANNOT be achievd in the gym," writes Tommy Atkins.
"Let's be honest, if England reach the last eight it will be a tremendous achievement given the schedule they have been forced to stick and the injuries they have had. It would be a real shame if they finally came home from this epic tour with feelings of disappointment and resentment, given what they achieved just a few months ago," says Mark Thomas.
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Fantasy Cricket World Cup
Eoin Morgan (7) is the only England batsman in form, while Suliemann Benn (5) has been W Indies' best bowler. telegraph.co.uk/fantasycricket.
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