Chris Tremlett: England could be peaking at the right time after coming through pressure situations
What a difference a week makes.
England have lifted the gloom that had begun to surround them following two poor performances by embracing the pressure and proving some people wrong.
They got themselves into a position where they needed to win two World Cup matches and having come through them in impressive fashion, beating India on Sunday and New Zealand today, they could now be peaking at the right time, with the semi-finals on the horizon.
Read more: Roy and Bairstow partnership the key for England’s World Cup hopes
Right now they will be very happy inside the camp because the last two games have been packed full of positives, with senior players standing up when it mattered.
The return of Jason Roy from injury has been huge. Jonny Bairstow has been fired up and brilliant, scoring two important centuries.
Liam Plunkett has returned to the side and shown just how important his steady, dependable bowling in the middle overs is; every game he has played in this tournament England have won.
England deserve an enormous amount of credit. Before the World Cup started there was a lot of hype around them as hosts and favourites and I think they’ve shown they can perform under pressure and in different conditions.
Some have said Eoin Morgan’s side are flat-track bullies. Of course they are brilliant on good pitches, but they can also adapt and play a different kind of game.
England know how to play the conditions which, as we’ve seen with South Africa and the West Indies, isn’t the case with every side.
England’s edge
England now turn their attention to the semi-finals, where they could play Australia or India.
I don’t think they will mind which. India might bring louder support and prefer certain conditions, but if England want to win it they’ll likely have to beat both anyway.
Having essentially come through two knockout games already I think England could have the edge.
They’ve dealt with the pressure their competitors haven’t.
If they continue to play their best, adapt to the conditions and get off to flying starts then they will have a great chance.