Paul Farbrace believes the pressure of the winner-takes-all Tri-Series clash with India will stand England in good stead at the World Cup.
The winners from the final group match of the tournament, played at the WACA Ground on Friday, will face Australia in the final at the same venue two days later.
England had opened up a significant lead over bottom-placed India following their comfortable bonus-point victory at the Gabba last week, but their fellow tourists were handed a lifeline yesterday when the washout in Sydney cut the gap to three points.
That leaves England knowing a win will guarantee their place in the showpiece, although a tie or washout will also seal their progression, pressure that Assistant Coach Farbrace says his side are thriving off.
The 47-year-old said: “In a sense, it is everything you want from this tournament.
“We came here saying that we want to be as successful in this tournament as we possibly can, and that is the same as any tournament you play in, but to have a must-win game on Friday is exactly what World Cup cricket is going to be about.
Paceman @finnysteve chats to coach Paul Farbrace during his long bowling spell in the WACA nets #triseries #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/Ao4P4JDych
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 27, 2015
“It is a great opportunity for us. We have talked a lot about winning back-to-back games. Everyone is looking forward to Friday, it is a must-win game and that is what you are going to have at this level as often as possible.
“Effectively it’s a semi-final and a final. That is what we are hoping we will be involved in in knockout games in the latter part of the World Cup.
“It is a huge opportunity for us to play two of the best teams in the world in the space of three days.”
Despite beating India comprehensively, England have lost both encounters with Australia, who they face in their opening World Cup game on February 14.
Another chance to have a crack at beating the hosts on home soil is something Farbrace is craving.
He said: “We were disappointed not to win in Hobart but we have had a few days to clear our heads, talk positively of what we did well and look forward to Friday’s game.
“We have made big improvements, we felt that we made big improvements from the Sydney game to the Hobart game.
“We want to play against Australia again on Sunday here in Perth because it is another part of the learning for a team that every game we play is a massive advantage for us.
“We are a developing team, we are improving with every game we play, but we want to win games. It is about winning games of cricket.
“You don’t ever get remembered for being a team that developed well over a long period of time, you get remembered for winning games of cricket.”
Paceman Stuart Broad has yet to take a wicket in the Tri-Series following his return to competitive action after a knee problem.
Blistering heat as the squad net at the WACA in Perth today #triseries #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/yCEbVfLlRb
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 27, 2015
But Farbrace insists it will only be a matter of time before Broad is back in the wicket column, labelling the 28-year-old a “world-class performer.”
He added: “Every game and every over that Stuart plays, he is getting better and better. He is a high-quality player for us and one of the best players in world cricket.
“It is the first time we have had him in the three or four series that I have been involved in with England in one-day cricket.
“He is a massive asset to us because he is the sort of player that takes the game by the scruff of the neck.
“He is a world-class performer and not many teams have that man in their side. He is someone that needs to get himself back to 100 per cent and he is not far off that.”