England anxious to break title drought

Title-hungry England arrived in the Caribbean yesterday, eyeing West Indies as “dangerous” opponents but confident they can win the World Twenty/Twenty Championship.



England will clash with the Windies and neighbours Ireland in Group ‘D’ of the preliminary round in Guyana.



The tournament will run from April 30 to May 16 and brings together 12 nations for 27 games spread across three countries.



Captain Paul Collingwood, who arrived ahead of the team from his stint in the Indian Premier League, told reporters they had been paying close attention to the recent one-day matches played in Guyana and were already streamlining their strategy for the Windies clash.



Playing at home in the World Twenty/Twenty last year, England were upset by the unfancied Netherlands in the tournament-opener but rebounded to beat eventual champions Pakistan and reach the Super Eight, second round.



Needing a win in their final match of the second round to reach the semi-finals, England were beaten by West Indies in a rain-affected game at the Oval to crash out of the competition.



Collingwood says, however, the scenario will be different this time around when they met the Chris Gayle-led unit.



England play their opening match of the tournament against West Indies on May 3 at the National Stadium at Providence.