James Anderson talks about England's trip to Sri Lanka
James Anderson is hoping England can generate some momentum ahead of the World Cup with a series victory in Sri Lanka.
Alastair Cook’s side continue their preparations for the showpiece in Australia and New Zealand early next year with seven one-day internationals in Sri Lanka.
Having lost their last two ODI series, Anderson believes a win overseas will inject belief into a young squad.
The Lancastrian paceman told ecb.co.uk:“Hopefully we can gel as a team to give us some momentum going over to Australia in the new year.
“We are still a fairly young team, we have got some new guys that are still gelling and finding their feet in the team.
“We have got to help those guys along, as well as the senior guys finding some form as well, and I think it is all about momentum.
“If we can get a win over there it will be a huge confidence boost for us and we would certainly be able to enjoy our Christmas knowing we have got a series win under out belt. That will give us huge confidence.”
Anderson, along with Cook,Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara, know all about winning in Sri Lanka after they were part of the England squad that triumphed there in 2007.
And, with some of Peter Moores’ party having not experienced Sri Lankan conditions before, Anderson believes the senior players have a vital role to play.
“It is always a tough place to go,” Anderson said. “They are alien conditions for us and we need to get to grips with those conditions early in that trip for us to be able to do well.
“We have got a lot of guys who haven’t been there before, so the senior players will come into their own and pass on some advice.
“Some of us were involved in a series win over there a few years back.”
Many people have written off England’s chances of lifting the World Cup in 2015.
But Anderson thinks differently, insisting his side will relish the challenge of playing the underdog.
He added: “We are going over there to win the World Cup. I know people will scoff at that and people have written us off already, but we are quite happy to be underdogs.
“Hopefully we can go under the radar and surprise a few people when we get there.”