Filed under: Cricket, England Cricket, World Cup, ODIs
In the wake of the embarrassment against Ireland in Bengaluru the clamour for change within the England team line-up is understandable.But after such a lamentable failure to defend an impressive total, there will always be two schools of thought for England team director Andy Flower to wrestle with.
The first option would be to send out the same 11 who let him down so badly out against South Africa, in the hope that the sense of indignation caused by Kevin O'Brien will generate the kind of reaction needed for a victory to put England's World Cup back on track.
There are a number of people in the side to whom he has remained incredibly loyal since he took charge of the England team - one example being Paul Collingwood - and they owe him a performance.
The alternative option would be for him to show the kind of ruthless streak that obviously lurks under his poker-faced demeanour and use the opportunity to devise a fresh look to the side which can carry England forward.
The time for debating whether England's preparations have been ideal has gone.
Excuses about the fact his side might be jaded and tired after a long winter in Australia are irrelevant.
England are in the middle of the competition and need to act swiftly to rectify the errors, particularly in the bowling and fielding department, which will prevent them from ending their long wait to win the 50-over title.
And no one should be duped by some suggestions being offered that England are the kind of team who only lift themselves for encounters against the larger teams in the competition.
Sport cannot be played that way at the highest level. Form is not something you turn on and off like a tap.
The best teams play hard cricket whether it is against their strongest rivals, or the weakest of the 14 teams taking part in the sub-continent.
Just have a look at the ruthless way South Africa disposed of the Netherlands side that ran England so close in their opening group game.
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Flower has to make changes, especially given the worrying signs of lack of mental strength at the end of their failed attempt to prevent Ireland overhauling them.
Stuart Broad pulling up, apparently with a knee injury in his penultimate over, when the chips were down, had the air of a man reluctant to take up the challenge.
James Anderson's inability to blow away the Ireland lower order and the damage inflicted on him by O'Brien was not the kind of self-assured performance which will be needed when the chips are down in a semi-final, if England should be fortunate to get that far.
The inquests in the England camp will have been going on for some time and what is the point of taking a 15-man squad if you are not going to utilise it, especially when key players seem to have lost their mojo?
Ajmal Shahzad bowled well against India in Broad's place and deserves to have another go, whether Broad is injured or not.
And Chris Tremlett, one of the revelations of the Test side in the Ashes, in place of the injured Broad, should also be given his chance in place of Anderson, who is a shadow of the bowler who professes to have ambitions of being the best fast bowler in the world.
England's ODI side should not be a closed shop. Flower has demonstrated enough times that he has the strength of character to whip his men into shape and he and captain Andrew Strauss are facing the toughest test of their powerful alliance.
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