Derek Pringle: Morgan's men must shake off Cricket World Cup nadir

England captain Eoin Morgan. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

Money is meant to protect you from the turbulences of the outside world but for England's cricketers, the most expensively prepared in history, the basics of team performance are proving hard to buy.

Despite vast resources being lavished on them, England have not reached a World Cup final for 23 years, a trend unlikely to be bucked unless they can reach tournament pitch against New Zealand today, and stay there for the next five weeks.

Few team progressions are ever seamless but England's nadir appears deeper than previous ones having begun soon after the defeat by India in the 2013 Champions Trophy final at Edgbaston. That loss, partly because of a pitch antagonistic to England's strengths, kick-started a run of 22 defeats and just 13 wins.

Extended troughs often scramble the minds of those making the big calls but some of England's recent decision-making has defied logic. Consider the backing of Alastair Cook, until recently England's one-day captain.

The stance, which all the selectors as well as Paul Downton, the managing director of England cricket, had been taking, was that Cook's position was inviolable until after the World Cup. This position was reconfirmed before the last game game of an ill-fated one-day tour to Sri Lanka, though when that was lost (no surprise to anyone), Cook was replaced by Eoin Morgan.

Morgan's last five one-day innings have yielded four ducks and a hundred, a famine to feast ratio that has made him the ongoing media story, never ideal when a new captain is trying to haul his team from the mire.

Aside from the barmy idea that a tour of Sri Lanka would be relevant to their preparation for the World Cup, the upshot of this collective about turn by the selectors is that they now have a man in charge in even worse batting form than Cook.

Compounding the situation are several selection decisions for which Morgan and coach Peter Moores must share culpability. Ravi Bopara was probably fortunate to have been picked for the squad in the first place but having overlooked Ben Stokes (the more likely match winner with bat and ball) to accommodate him, to then drop him for the opening match against Australia made little sense.

Instead, Gary Ballance was picked to bat at three, a cautious move even with Mitchell Johnson breathing fire and brimstone, especially as the selectors had long been wary of the lack of dynamism emanating from a top order containing both Cook and Ian Bell. In this instance read Ballance for Cook and for brave new world read same old story.

Alex Hales, a tall, powerful ball striker, offers an alternative as top order aggressor, but international bowlers managed to nullify his big shots after just a few games and England's management now appear reluctant to pick him.

It is not all gloom and James Taylor's transformation with the bat will ensure the team are competitive, providing one or two others, like Jos Buttler, can provide a telling innings.

A big total is still no guarantee of victory for Morgan's men, given their woeful death bowling. Of the top nine countries they are second worst for runs conceded in the final 10 overs, a statistic at odds with their reputation for being among the best in the first 10.

One reason is that England appear in thrall to their analysts. The plan against Australia last weekend - to bowl short at the death because the square boundaries at the MCG are longer than the straight ones - contains a certain logic, yet it ignores the greater arc through which a batsman can manipulate a shorter-pitched ball.

Ramp shots may have increased the risk of bowling yorkers but they must still be the percentage option for conceding fewest runs.

World Cups are curious beasts, and in 1992 Pakistan had a foot through the exit when they suddenly found a streak hot enough to win the tournament.

England have the talent to reach the semifinals and once there you never know, but they need to spark to life now if they are to have any chance with captain Morgan to the fore.

• Derek Pringle is a former England allrounder.