Cricket World Cup 2011: England's biggest challenge is scoring off spin bowlers who will dominate tournament

England have their best chance in 20 years of winning the World Cup, the trophy that has eluded them longer than any other. 

Most of the bookmakers have them as fifth favourites, which tallies with their one-day ranking, but they have that ingredient that can enable teams in tournaments like this: self-belief borne of their recent success in the Ashes and World T20.

They will certainly need something to boost them once their campaign gets under way against Holland in Nagpur on Tuesday, for their recent 50-over form and fitness has been poor.

Losing 6-1 to Australia, following the hosts’ Ashes drubbing, defied the laws of sporting gravity and will have done little for morale.

To prevent full-blown malaise on the eve of the tournament, Andy Flower, England’s team director, decided to shake the team’s dynamics by promoting Kevin Pietersen to open the innings with Andrew Strauss.

Opening with your best all-round batsman and most likely match-winner is an interesting move and one whose ratio of desperation to inspiration will be revealed as the tournament progresses.