Now I know that there is a train of thought that suggests that you should slowly build momentum in tournaments and the team that gets off to a flier and batters all before them in the group stage run out of steam by the knockout stage and get eliminated. England's stuttering start to the Cricket World Cup however is the flip side of the coin where, inconsistent as they are, they still show patches of form that threaten to make them dark horses. All that, however, is dependent on England making the knockout stage in the first place which no longer seems assured after defeat to Bangladesh. Poor performances against the minnows have been off set by a draw against India and a win against South Africa making their tournament so far all the more frustrating. Whether the length of time away from home is taking it's toll and petty frustrations come to the fore like today or they relax when considered underdogs, England are at least proving to be compelling viewing which has not always been the case.
   The way England have been playing it is tempting to suggest that they have finished their tricky fixtures after facing all the associate nations in their group and the more daunting prospect of the West Indies next week should therefore be an easier proposition after which we can look forward to more straight forward games against the favourites. That scenario is too simplistic for England still and something involving run rates and Duckworth Lewis will no doubt interfere to create more tension.