GROS ISLET, St. Lucia (AP):ENGLAND DIDN'T have too much time to dwell on their six-wicket defeat to New Zealand as they had to prepare for Canada today.
And that suited England captain Michael Vaughan just fine.
?It's a good thing we play again so soon,? Vaughan said after Friday?s opening loss to the Black Caps. Bodies might be a little bit tired but it?s some times the best thing to get back on the horse.?
Canada might be the best opponent for a confidence booster - they lost by seven wickets to Kenya in Group C?s opening match on Wednesday, with captain John Davison finding few positives.
Concentrating on batting
England will be concentrating on improving their batting. Only Kevin Pietersen (60) scored a half century, and he looked annoyed after he spooned a shot from New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond into the hands of James Franklin at long-on.
?He was obviously frustrated and disappointed because I think he fancied three figures and a big score in his first World Cup game,?= Vaughan said.
England's innings was rescued by a 71-run eighth-wicket stand from Paul Nixon (42) and Liam Plunkett (29) to set a target of 210. New Zealand beat that with nine overs to spare.
While spinners are expected to do well at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, it was the express pace of New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond (2-19) and the medium pace of Scott Styris (2-25) that undid England.
?We know the conditions here now, Vaughan said. We just need to make sure we improve our performance and make sure we come out on Sunday night with a victory.
We'll certainly be picking what we feel is the best XI to beat Canada. There?ll be no thought of playing players just to get practice. We need to win the game and make sure we get our World Cup campaign off and running.
Canada have been working on their running between wickets, which Davison described as 'embarrassing' against Kenya.
key for Canada
One key for Canada will be the form of opening batsman Geoff Barnett, who hit 41 off 50 balls with nine boundaries against the Kenyans.
Fast bowler Anderson Cummins returned to high-level international cricket by taking 1-32 against Kenya and Canada is also set to rely on his experience against England.
The 40-year-old Cummins played for the West Indies at the 1992 World Cup. Canada?s only injury doubt is bowler Qaiser Ali, who didn't take to the field against Kenya because of a sore back.
Teams:
England (likely): Ed Joyce, Michael Vaughan (captain), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Jamie Dalrymple, Paul Nixon, Liam Plunkett, Jimmy Anderson, Monty Panesar.
Canada (from): John Davison (captain), Geoff Barnett, Abdool Samad, Ashish Bagai, Ian Billcliff, Ashif Mulla, Sunil Dhaniram, Desmond Chumney, Umar Bhatti, Anderson Cummins, Henry Osinde, Qaiser Ali.
