Ian Bell says it is now time for England to deliver at the World Cup, starting with the clash against Scotland at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch tonight.
Eoin Morgan’s side have begun their campaign with two defeats to the co-hosts, following a loss to Australia on Valentine’s Day with a heavy reverse against New Zealand on Friday.
That double blow has left them bottom of Pool A, making the clash with Scotland crucial in their quest to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Bell said: “It’s about how we react. I think we have got to put on a good performance. The result is the most important thing but it would be nice to put it on with real, clinical cricket.
“We haven’t done that in these last two games, we have been well off the pace. It will be nice to turn up and put all together the game we know we can. That is what we have got to do.
“Even though what has happened has been so bad, it is irrelevant with what happens tomorrow. We need to turn up and play our best cricket.”
Nets for England in Christchurch in light drizzle and overcast conditions #CWC15pic.twitter.com/DCl8T017zu
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 21, 2015
England’s hopes of bouncing back from their opening defeat to Australia were damaged by the Black Caps, who were inspired by Tim Southee and Brendon McCullum.
Southee’s 7-33, the best one-day international bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler, helped dismiss England for 123 before McCullum blasted the fastest World Cup half-century, off 18 balls, to ease his side to victory.
Despite back-to-back defeats, England now have four matches to secure their place in the next round.
Bell added: “To go out and play like we did was embarrassing. The fact we had to apologise about the cricket is not acceptable. It is really disappointing.
“But hopefully, in the next four games we have got in this group, we can put it right and start playing the kind of cricket everyone knows we can.
“The next four games are the most important for us, starting tomorrow. If we can play some good cricket over the next four games, it puts us in a good place for the next round of games.
Watch England train and prepare for their #CWC15 match v Scotland in Christchurch: http://t.co/ONya1Q2WXs via @YouTube
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 22, 2015
“Whatever has gone has gone. We have got to focus on tomorrow.”
Opening batsman Bell admits England’s senior players, including himself, have a role to play in restoring confidence in the camp.
The 32-year-old said: “The guys who have got the experience and been through days like that before, or even good days, it is important to be able to speak to the group and make sure the group are calm and ready for tomorrow.
“This is the important thing. We have had a part to play over the last 48 hours. For myself, if I can get a good start with Mo (Moeen Ali), then that sort of helps us on our way to putting a good performance in.”
England will come up against a familiar face tomorrow with ex-international Paul Collingwood part of Scotland’s coaching staff.
Bell is hoping to make his former team-mate unhappy, though, saying: “Colly is a good guy. He knows his cricket very well and he is a good coach. They have got a good guy there.
“It will be a good challenge and good to see him tomorrow. But hopefully we can put one over him.”
Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen believes Durham all-rounder Collingwood’s knowledge of England will help his side in their preparations.
The 27-year-old said: “He has been pretty valuable with the input he has given and the insight he has given to the players.
“He has played with a lot of these guys, played against a lot of these guys on the county circuit, so he has got a fair bit of knowledge and he has shared that with the group.”
On the huge clash with England, Mommsen added: “There is always a huge rivalry between Scotland and England in any sporting event. I have been to Murrayfield for a Scotland-England match and the passion on display there is pretty awesome.
“Hopefully that will come out tomorrow. We are up for this game. We have got a very passionate 15 players there who will fight tooth and nail for every run and try and save every run in the field as well.
“We will be fighting for it tomorrow, there is no doubt about that, we want to win this game and hopefully we can put in a huge performance.”