Cricket: England's explosive assignment

Cricket World Cup: Stewart's men square up to former foes in a grudge match neither side can afford to lose

WORLD CUP matches do not come any more important than today's opener at Lord's, where England's game against the current world champions Sri Lanka assumes the importance of a one-day final and grudge match all rolled into one. Defeat, though not terminal, is something neither side dare contemplate, and progress to the Super Six stage will be far more difficult for the side that comes off second best.

In a tournament that will punish slow starters but favour those fortunate with the coin, it is a game that both teams would probably like to have played later, once first night nerves had settled. A hangover from recent events, specifically that ill-tempered game between the two in Adelaide, may well add insult to the occasion, if not injury. If it does, then this tussle will be won by the side keeping the coolest head, something that eluded England that day back in January when they failed to defend a massive total of 302 runs.

As hosts England will want to do well, reaching at least the semi-final stage, where a good showing may appease those who feel cricket is an ante- diluvian pastime best left behind in the 20th century. A win today, or tomorrow should expected showers force the game into a second day, will be imperative not only to that end but to the health of the English game in general, a view played down by David Graveney, the chairman of selectors.

"It's a huge tournament," said Graveney after England had practiced at Lord's yesterday. "There is a lot of pressure and expectation, but the game in England is not suddenly going to collapse overnight if we don't do well. But if we do, the interest among younger people is bound to increase, which can only be a good thing."

England do not come into the competition on a surge of good form, and they have lost nine of their last 11 one-day internationals. Prior to that their record had been six wins from 10. Significantly all evidence of decline points to that barmy day in Adelaide, where something far deeper than defeat appeared to happen to England. To make things worse, recovery has not been helped by the atrocious form of their openers Nick Knight and Alec Stewart.

If the propaganda over the white balls is to be believed - they are expected to seam, swing and bounce more than their red counterparts - the opening overs will form the key battleground of the competition. If so, England's situation is close to crisis point and one that would have been the hot topic of debate in last night's selection meeting.

As captain and wicketkeeper, there is no question of Stewart standing down or moving down the order. Knight on the other hand, despite David Lloyd's ringing endorsement following his duck in Tuesday's warm-up game against Hampshire, may find the dreaded consolatory pat on his shoulder this morning.

Unlike Michael Atherton, who can grind his way out of a rut, Knight is a flair player who needs confidence to perform. On form, the left-hander is one of the best one-day openers in the game, but his self-belief appears so shredded at present that England would probably be better off playing Nasser Hussain, whose recent runs would at least guarantee a more confident face in the field.

As expected, Stewart dead-batted the issue and concentrated more on playing down the recent acrimony between the two sides. "It's a big game," acknowledged Stewart, "but we'll be treating it no differently to any other one-dayer. We want to get off to a good start so we'll be looking to win.

"It's my third World Cup, but my first in England and I'm really looking forward to it. In order to stay focused we've tried not to build the thing up too much. We know the host nation have never won it, but if we play to our capabilities we've got a chance. If we don't, we won't compete, but that goes for anyone."

The pitch, pale and straw coloured, is taking a stud however, and whoever wins the toss will want to bowl. England, with Darren Gough and Alan Mullally appearing in excellent fettle, hold the advantage there, but Chaminda Vaas and Pramodya Wickremasinghe should not be taken lightly, while Muttiah Muralitharan could probably turn his off-breaks on a pane of glass if required.

One of England's abiding weaknesses has been their inability to work spinners around and overcaution and predictability have allowed pressure to build in the middle overs. Murali apart, it should not be a factor today and Andrew Flintoff's presence, behind or between Graham Thorpe and Neil Fairbrother, should ensure things do not get too bogged down.

At 21 Flintoff is a huge talent and his presence here, in such a showpiece tournament, is surely evidence that England have begun to embrace youth, if not risk.

Providing it continues, the cold and damp will certainly favour England. Yet if Sri Lanka operate better in temperatures nearing the 100-degree mark they have, in Arjuna Ranatunga, one of the master operators in this kind of cricket and under him the world champions will begin the defence of their crown by whatever means necessary.

They will probably need to as well, and England can console themselves that their opponent's recent record - played 19, lost 15 - is about as poor as theirs. The Lord's factor, which often helps visiting sides, may lift Ranatunga's team though the toss, like it does in most Lord's finals, is likely to prove more important.