Joe Root has reiterated the need for England’s top-four batsmen to fire if the tourists are to enjoy a successful Tri-Series and World Cup.
England struggled to replicate the explosive performances they produced with the bat during the two warm-up matches, when they amassed 364 for six and 391 for six respectively against an Australian Combined Territory XI and Prime Minister's XI, in their opening encounter with Australia on Friday.
Having won the toss, England slipped to nought for two in the first three balls and then 33 for four in the ninth over.
Eoin Morgan marked his first competitive game as full-time one-day international skipper with a brilliant century, but it was not enough to prevent a three-wicket defeat.
India are their next opponents tomorrow, at the Gabba, as both aim to record a first victory of the tournament, and Root knows the head of England’s batting line-up needs to fire.
The 24-year-old said: “If we are going to make big scores we need the top four to get the majority of the runs, we know that.
“We have proved that in the lead-up to this series, in our warm-up games and out in Sri Lanka as well.
“This is the side that is going to be taken to the World Cup, the squad that is going to be taken into the World Cup, and we know where we are at as a squad.
“We know we have got the right men in the dressing room to win games of cricket. Hopefully we can prove that throughout this Tri-Series.
“We are here to win games of cricket. There is a World Cup round the corner so this is a massive series for us, we need to bounce back from last week.”
South Africa batsman AB de Villiers hit the headlines yesterday by blasting the fastest ODI century, off just 31 balls, as West Indies’ bowlers were flayed to all parts of the Wanderers.
With the feat occurring just before next month’s World Cup, Root believes England’s batsmen can use de Villiers’ innings as inspiration.
“It’s exciting to see that just before a World Cup,” the Yorkshireman said. “It’s an unbelievable effort to be able to do that in such a short space of time.
We have just heard from @joeroot05 at the Gabba. Look out for the video on @ECB_cricket soon #triseries #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/3B3qzPtHvA
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 19, 2015
“It’s another massive score, over 400. It’s obviously good for South Africa as a side and it’s good to see teams putting in performances like that.
“You want entertainment, you want to watch that sort of cricket. Hopefully that can happen more frequently. Those are the things as a side we are aiming towards, to make those big scores.”
On the challenge of India, who also lost to Australia in their opening match, Root said: “Each side brings something different.
“India have got a few guys in great form with the bat and have got some very skilful bowlers. We have got our plans in place to try and combat that and make sure we do everything we can to make big scores and take 10 wickets.”
Experienced paceman James Anderson could return to England’s side tomorrow after missing the last two matches as a precaution.
Root added: “He has got masses of experience and is a big part of the dressing room. He can only strengthen our squad having him fit.
“He has got a lot of skills and, in these conditions on these wickets, I think he will be hard to come up against.”