Unlike India, who have failed to defend two big scores, at least England know where their faults lie, though whether they can put them right in time, is another matter. In the 1992 World Cup, Pakistan were just as haphazard in their early matches. But faced with a win or bust situation in their last group game, they won and didn't stop until Imran Khan hoisted the trophy. England can replicate that but they need to make the knockout stage and that is not entirely in their own hands.
• 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: Australia unbeaten run in World Cups now stands at 33 consecutive matches since their loss to Pakistan in 1999.
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Tweet of the day: @Aggerscricket: "Have worked out if I had got into 3-wheel tuk tuk at Chittagong airport and driven straight line to Chennai, journey would have taken same time."
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Yesterday at the World Cup
England's management team have denied reports Andrew Strauss is planning to retire from one-day internationals at the end of the World Cup.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said Associate nations should only qualify for the World Cup if they have dominated second-tier cricket for a number of years.
Graeme Swann has apologised for losing his temper with umpire Daryl Harper during England's defeat to Bangladesh, but said the heavy dew in Chittagong made his job "like trying to bowl with a bar of soap."
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Today's debate:
Will South Africa and India meet again in the CWC final? Tweet @telegraphsport, or send your emails to sportfeedback@telegraph.co.uk.
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Your emails:
"There should be rescheduling to allow players more time with their families. Andrew Strauss has proven himself in both formats of the game and led by example and should have been given the job long before. But family time is important to maintaining good form," mails Eddie Fox.
"There is no doubt that this World Cup format is ridiculous. It was always predictable that there would be a month of more or less meaningless games with the 8 real Test countries qualifying for the quarter finals and using the group games to tinker with their line-up, trying to find their optimal combinations and hoping to peak for the knockout stage. This may be acceptable for the Asian countries which really have no other sport but cricket and have a lot of time to fill (especially for TV) but in the West life and being the centre of attention is very competitive and this World Cup is a very minor story," adds Tom Lowe.
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Fantasy Cricket World Cup
Umar Gul (5) could find conditions against Zimbabwe to his liking in Pallekele. telegraph.co.uk/fantasycricket.
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