• How England will play in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011? England, the mirror of matured cricket, are now carrying the weight of the recent Ashes success in Australia. Following the euphoria of a rare away Ashes triumph, England now must focus on readying themselves for the World Cup. After losing the sixth ODI against Australia, the team can now think only of avoiding a whitewash by the Aussies by winning the last one at Perth.
 
If you’d asked any England fan prior to the commencement of the Ashes series if the ODI series was important in comparison to the battle for the little urn, each and every one of them would have said absolutely not. Most fans, and even each member of the Ashes winning side, would probably would have readily accepted a 7-0 whitewash in return for Ashes glory.

The Ashes glory has been delivered and the 7-0 hammering was duly en route. The same thing happened to England after the 2009 Ashes in England. With the coveted Test series won 2-1, Andrew Strauss’ men proceeded to go 6-0 down in the subsequent ODI series before pulling off an unlikely win at Durham which restored enough confidence for the team to then unexpectedly reach the semi-finals of ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa shortly afterwards.

 This England outfit is made of sterner stuff and has its eye firmly on the prize of global domination. With the World Cup looming England needs its players to stand up and show their mettle now. Much like the fans, it appears as though Strauss and his men aren’t quite as enthusiastic for this ODI series as they were for the Ashes.
 
No one could blame them for carrying something of a hangover from the Ashes, given the effort and emotion involved. But the serious business starts on the sub-continent very soon. The realisation that Australia is bouncing back from the national tragedy that was a home Ashes defeat should focus the English minds.

http://www.thecricketblog.co.uk/australia-brings-england-back-down-to-earth/