England face make or break

England face make or break

England captain Paul Collingwood faces a test of his leadership credentials ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 clash with Pakistan at the Oval after their shock loss to the Netherlands.

Friday's stunning four-wicket defeat by the minnows in the tournament opener at Lord's means England cannot afford another reverse on Sunday if they are to progress to the second round Super Eight phase.

England, surprisingly, left out off-spinner Graeme Swann and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas from their team that played the Dutch while star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out with an Achilles tendon injury.

South Africa born shotmaker Pietersen, who remains doubtful for Sunday's match, is capable of clearing the ropes - something England lacked against the Dutch, with the visitors' scoring four sixes to the hosts' none.

But equally concerning for England was the way in which they were unable to defend a score of 162 for five, with the Dutch getting home off the last ball thanks in part to a series of fielding errors by England quick Stuart Broad.

"We're still in the tournament, we have 24 hours to get our heads around it and we have to play a hell of a lot better on Sunday.

"Pakistan are obviously a very good side," Collingwood told reporters at Lord's. "They got to the final of the last Twenty20 World Cup, they're very skilful and we're going to have to be at our very, very best to beat that side but we can do it."

England have often given the impression in recent years that their focus is solely on the upcoming Test series against Australia, which starts in July.

But Collingwood denied England were obsessed with the Ashes to the exclusion of all else.

"Absolutely not. We are an England team at the moment in a Twenty20 World Cup and that means a hell of a lot to all the players in there (the dressing room) and that's why they are all devastated.

"We are solely thinking about Twenty20 cricket, we are not thinking about the Ashes at the moment."

Pakistan will be playing their first match of the tournament proper on Sunday. They come into the game on the back of two heavy warm-up losses to South Africa (59 runs) and arch-rivals India (nine wickets).

But if any team in world cricket can find their form when needed with little in the way of prior warning then it is Pakistan.

"What happened in those two matches will not matter once the real thing starts," Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam told AFP.

"We may be slow starters but there is a lot of talent in the team that gives me confidence we will do well.

"We tried a lot of new things and new combinations in the two matches to get the mix right for the tournament, so the results there don't matter."

England captain Paul Collingwood faces a test of his leadership credentials ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 clash with Pakistan at the Oval after their shock loss to the Netherlands.

Friday's stunning four-wicket defeat by the minnows in the tournament opener at Lord's means England cannot afford another reverse on Sunday if they are to progress to the second round Super Eight phase.

England, surprisingly, left out off-spinner Graeme Swann and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas from their team that played the Dutch while star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out with an Achilles tendon injury.

South Africa born shotmaker Pietersen, who remains doubtful for Sunday's match, is capable of clearing the ropes - something England lacked against the Dutch, with the visitors' scoring four sixes to the hosts' none.

But equally concerning for England was the way in which they were unable to defend a score of 162 for five, with the Dutch getting home off the last ball thanks in part to a series of fielding errors by England quick Stuart Broad.

"We're still in the tournament, we have 24 hours to get our heads around it and we have to play a hell of a lot better on Sunday.

"Pakistan are obviously a very good side," Collingwood told reporters at Lord's. "They got to the final of the last Twenty20 World Cup, they're very skilful and we're going to have to be at our very, very best to beat that side but we can do it."

England have often given the impression in recent years that their focus is solely on the upcoming Test series against Australia, which starts in July.

But Collingwood denied England were obsessed with the Ashes to the exclusion of all else.

"Absolutely not. We are an England team at the moment in a Twenty20 World Cup and that means a hell of a lot to all the players in there (the dressing room) and that's why they are all devastated.

"We are solely thinking about Twenty20 cricket, we are not thinking about the Ashes at the moment."

Pakistan will be playing their first match of the tournament proper on Sunday. They come into the game on the back of two heavy warm-up losses to South Africa (59 runs) and arch-rivals India (nine wickets).

But if any team in world cricket can find their form when needed with little in the way of prior warning then it is Pakistan.

"What happened in those two matches will not matter once the real thing starts," Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam told AFP.

"We may be slow starters but there is a lot of talent in the team that gives me confidence we will do well.

"We tried a lot of new things and new combinations in the two matches to get the mix right for the tournament, so the results there don't matter."

England face make or break Pakistan clash

England face make or break Pakistan clash

England captain Paul Collingwood faces a test of his leadership credentials ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 clash with Pakistan at the Oval after their shock loss to the Netherlands.

Friday's stunning four-wicket defeat by the minnows in the tournament opener at Lord's means England cannot afford another reverse on Sunday if they are to progress to the second round Super Eight phase.

England, surprisingly, left out off-spinner Graeme Swann and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas from their team that played the Dutch while star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out with an Achilles tendon injury.

South Africa born shotmaker Pietersen, who remains doubtful for Sunday's match, is capable of clearing the ropes - something England lacked against the Dutch, with the visitors' scoring four sixes to the hosts' none.

But equally concerning for England was the way in which they were unable to defend a score of 162 for five, with the Dutch getting home off the last ball thanks in part to a series of fielding errors by England quick Stuart Broad.

"We're still in the tournament, we have 24 hours to get our heads around it and we have to play a hell of a lot better on Sunday.

"Pakistan are obviously a very good side," Collingwood told reporters at Lord's. "They got to the final of the last Twenty20 World Cup, they're very skilful and we're going to have to be at our very, very best to beat that side but we can do it."

England have often given the impression in recent years that their focus is solely on the upcoming Test series against Australia, which starts in July.

But Collingwood denied England were obsessed with the Ashes to the exclusion of all else.

"Absolutely not. We are an England team at the moment in a Twenty20 World Cup and that means a hell of a lot to all the players in there (the dressing room) and that's why they are all devastated.

"We are solely thinking about Twenty20 cricket, we are not thinking about the Ashes at the moment."

Pakistan will be playing their first match of the tournament proper on Sunday. They come into the game on the back of two heavy warm-up losses to South Africa (59 runs) and arch-rivals India (nine wickets).

But if any team in world cricket can find their form when needed with little in the way of prior warning then it is Pakistan.

"What happened in those two matches will not matter once the real thing starts," Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam told AFP.

"We may be slow starters but there is a lot of talent in the team that gives me confidence we will do well.

"We tried a lot of new things and new combinations in the two matches to get the mix right for the tournament, so the results there don't matter."

And Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, like Alam speaking before Friday's stunning upset, said a tough warm-up programme could work in the side's favour.

"It's always good to play against in-form teams before a tournament because that allows you to get aware of your weaknesses."

England captain Paul Collingwood faces a test of his leadership credentials ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 clash with Pakistan at the Oval after their shock loss to the Netherlands.

Friday's stunning four-wicket defeat by the minnows in the tournament opener at Lord's means England cannot afford another reverse on Sunday if they are to progress to the second round Super Eight phase.

England, surprisingly, left out off-spinner Graeme Swann and all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas from their team that played the Dutch while star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out with an Achilles tendon injury.

South Africa born shotmaker Pietersen, who remains doubtful for Sunday's match, is capable of clearing the ropes - something England lacked against the Dutch, with the visitors' scoring four sixes to the hosts' none.

But equally concerning for England was the way in which they were unable to defend a score of 162 for five, with the Dutch getting home off the last ball thanks in part to a series of fielding errors by England quick Stuart Broad.

"We're still in the tournament, we have 24 hours to get our heads around it and we have to play a hell of a lot better on Sunday.

"Pakistan are obviously a very good side," Collingwood told reporters at Lord's. "They got to the final of the last Twenty20 World Cup, they're very skilful and we're going to have to be at our very, very best to beat that side but we can do it."

England have often given the impression in recent years that their focus is solely on the upcoming Test series against Australia, which starts in July.

But Collingwood denied England were obsessed with the Ashes to the exclusion of all else.

"Absolutely not. We are an England team at the moment in a Twenty20 World Cup and that means a hell of a lot to all the players in there (the dressing room) and that's why they are all devastated.

"We are solely thinking about Twenty20 cricket, we are not thinking about the Ashes at the moment."

Pakistan will be playing their first match of the tournament proper on Sunday. They come into the game on the back of two heavy warm-up losses to South Africa (59 runs) and arch-rivals India (nine wickets).

But if any team in world cricket can find their form when needed with little in the way of prior warning then it is Pakistan.

"What happened in those two matches will not matter once the real thing starts," Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam told AFP.

"We may be slow starters but there is a lot of talent in the team that gives me confidence we will do well.

"We tried a lot of new things and new combinations in the two matches to get the mix right for the tournament, so the results there don't matter."

And Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, like Alam speaking before Friday's stunning upset, said a tough warm-up programme could work in the side's favour.

"It's always good to play against in-form teams before a tournament because that allows you to get aware of your weaknesses."

outh Africa begin their quest to win the ICC World Twenty20

outh Africa begin their quest to win the ICC World Twenty20

South Africa begin their quest to win the ICC World Twenty20 title against Scotland at the Oval on Sunday determined to shed their reputation as one-day 'chokers'.

The Proteas have recently enjoyed some memorable Test triumphs, winning series in both England and Australia.

But since South Africa's re-admission in 1991 they have not reached the final of a major one-day tournament.

"We have had a wonderful past 12 months, which has included winning away test series in both England and Australia and winning home-and-away one-day international series against Australia to gain top spot in the world rankings," said South Africa captain Graeme Smith.

"One of the boxes we still want to tick is to win a major International Cricket Council Championship."

But that will require the Proteas to end their run of self-inflicted wounds. At the 1999 World Cup fast bowler Allan Donald was run out off the last ball of their semi-final against Australia, the tie taking the Aussies into the final.

And four years later, on home soil, South Africa's failure to correctly interpret the Duckworth-Lewis system saw them go out of the World Cup in the group stage during a rain-affected match against Sri Lanka.

South Africa staged the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 but did not reach the semi-finals.

But 12 of their 15-man squad played in the recent Indian Premier League, that was moved to South Africa at short notice because of security concerns.

They beat both Pakistan and Sri Lanka convincingly in their warm-up matches and Smith said: "The confidence is good and we are excited about playing this tournament with the chance to go out and express ourselves.

"I think there is a lot more talent, flair and confidence among this team than ever before."

Scotland, just a day after fellow minnows Netherlands beat hosts England by four wickets in the tournament opener at Lord's, were on course for a shock win over New Zealand at the Oval on Saturday after making 89 for four in a match reduced by rain to seven overs per side.

In the end their bowling and fielding couldn't match their batting, with the Black Caps winning by seven wickets with an over to spare.

But Scotland captain Gavin Hamilton insisted his men would be equally bold against the Proteas.

"South Africa are an outstanding team with match-winners but we are going to come out and play like we did today, we won't not die wondering," the former England all-rounder promised.

South Africa begin their quest to win the ICC World Twenty20 title against Scotland at the Oval on Sunday determined to shed their reputation as one-day 'chokers'.

The Proteas have recently enjoyed some memorable Test triumphs, winning series in both England and Australia.

But since South Africa's re-admission in 1991 they have not reached the final of a major one-day tournament.

"We have had a wonderful past 12 months, which has included winning away test series in both England and Australia and winning home-and-away one-day international series against Australia to gain top spot in the world rankings," said South Africa captain Graeme Smith.

"One of the boxes we still want to tick is to win a major International Cricket Council Championship."

But that will require the Proteas to end their run of self-inflicted wounds. At the 1999 World Cup fast bowler Allan Donald was run out off the last ball of their semi-final against Australia, the tie taking the Aussies into the final.

And four years later, on home soil, South Africa's failure to correctly interpret the Duckworth-Lewis system saw them go out of the World Cup in the group stage during a rain-affected match against Sri Lanka.

South Africa staged the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 but did not reach the semi-finals.

But 12 of their 15-man squad played in the recent Indian Premier League, that was moved to South Africa at short notice because of security concerns.

They beat both Pakistan and Sri Lanka convincingly in their warm-up matches and Smith said: "The confidence is good and we are excited about playing this tournament with the chance to go out and express ourselves.

"I think there is a lot more talent, flair and confidence among this team than ever before."

Scotland, just a day after fellow minnows Netherlands beat hosts England by four wickets in the tournament opener at Lord's, were on course for a shock win over New Zealand at the Oval on Saturday after making 89 for four in a match reduced by rain to seven overs per side.

In the end their bowling and fielding couldn't match their batting, with the Black Caps winning by seven wickets with an over to spare.

But Scotland captain Gavin Hamilton insisted his men would be equally bold against the Proteas.

"South Africa are an outstanding team with match-winners but we are going to come out and play like we did today, we won't not die wondering," the former England all-rounder promised.